Last update:
2014-07-25

The Fujia Petrochemical Paraxylene (PX) Plant protest in Dalian, Liaoning, China


Description:

As Typhoon Meihua battered China’s east coast in early August, a dyke protecting China’s largest manufacturer of paraxylene (PX) was washed away, bringing the plant’s existence to the attention of the local population and triggering public safety fears (Tang Hao, China Dialogue, 6 September 2011).

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Basic Data
Name of conflict:The Fujia Petrochemical Paraxylene (PX) Plant protest in Dalian, Liaoning, China
Country:China
State or province:Liaoning
Location of conflict:Dalian
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Industrial and Utilities conflicts
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Urban development conflicts
Chemical industries
Specific commodities:Paraxylene
Chemical products
Project Details and Actors
Project details

The Fujia petrochemical plant has the capacity to produce 700,000 tonnes of paraxylene (PX) per year, generating tax revenues of almost £200m a year (Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, 13 January 2012).

Level of Investment for the conflictive project1,500,000,000
Type of populationUrban
Affected Population:6,690,432 (2010 census - 大连市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报)
Start of the conflict:14/08/2011
Company names or state enterprises:Dalian Fujia Dahua Petrochemical Co., Ltd. ( Fujia Dahua ) from China - The Dalian PX plant is jointly owned by the city and Fujia Dahua.
Relevant government actors:The Dalian municipal government office (Tang Jun), the Dalian Propaganda Office (Yang Guang), the Dalian Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB)
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: The Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteer Association (Tang Zailin), Dalian residents, concerned netizens
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityMEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)
Reaction stageIn REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation)
Groups mobilizing:Local ejos
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Netizens
Forms of mobilization:Development of a network/collective action
Media based activism/alternative media
Street protest/marches
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsPotential: Soil contamination, Waste overflow, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality
Health ImpactsPotential: Other Health impacts
Other Health impacts"The main effect of inhaling xylene vapor is depression of the central nervous system, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, which can occur with exposure up to air levels of about 100 ppm. [...] Long term exposure can lead to depression, insomnia, agitation, extreme tiredness, tremors, impaired concentration and short-term memory. [...] At very high levels of exposure, xylene can injure the liver and kidneys, with the damage being irreversible. [...] Xylene inhaled by a woman can reach a developing fetus and can contaminate her breast milk" (Kandyala et al. 2010).
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Other socio-economic impacts
Other socio-economic impactsAbsence of the rule of law -- "Following the uproar, Dalian authorities ordered the managers of the Fujia Dahua facility immediately to halt production and relocate their plant: the public campaign had concluded with the government bowing to public opinion – on the surface, a triumph. But the whole case highlights how, in the absence of strong rule of law, China’s environmental management has taken the road of what I call “interaction without rules”. This brings its own set of problems. On environmental issues, “interaction without rules” normally goes through three stages: first, local interest groups and local governments push ahead with a polluting project in violation of environmental regulations. Second, local people spontaneously organise mass protests against the project in question, an activity supported by neither law nor policy. And third, in response to the threat to social stability created by the protests, local government halts the project – again, breaching laws. At every stage, the existing rules are lightly cast aside by all participants (Tang Hao, China Dialogue, 6 September 2011).
Outcome
Project StatusIn operation
Conflict outcome / response:The Dalian PX plant is believed to have resumed production since January 2012, with no concrete plans for relocation.
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No
Briefly explain:According to Jonathan Watts from the Guardian (13 January 2012): "The Fujia Petrochemical PX plant in Dalian was shut down after more than 10,000 people took to the streets on 14 August 2011 to demand its relocation on public safety grounds. In a bid to placate the urban, middle-class crowd, Dalian city leaders announced that they would move the factory to an industrial park on Xizhong Island. [However], the plant is believed to have quietly resumed production just months after officials promised to halt operations and move the facility. [...] Domestic critics believe the authorities may be having second thoughts because the factory has been licensed for several years and its closure would result in a significant loss of income and a large compensation payout for breach of contract."
Sources & Materials

Public storm in Dalian
[click to view]

China protest closes toxic chemical plant in Dalian
[click to view]

China: Protesters win in Dalian
[click to view]

Controversial Chinese chemical plant believed to have resumed production
[click to view]

Meta information
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:1455
Comments
Legal notice / Aviso legal
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