Jinlu Group Dismisses Dangers in 24 Hours    

Sichuan Jinlu Resin Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sichuan Jinlu Group Co., Ltd. (SZ: 000510), is located in the earthquake region-Luojiang of Deyang, Sichuan province. Nearby Mianzhu and Shifang suffered greatly in the disaster on May 12th. By May 19th more than 80 000 houses in Luojiang County had collapsed.
    Sichuan Jinlu Resin Co., Ltd. mainly produces polyvinyl chloride resin and caustic soda. The production condition requires high temperature and high pressure. Several products and intermediates with acute toxicity and inflammability such as liquid chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer, liquid ammonia, caustic soda and hydrogen are produced. Any power stoppage or vibration in the production may cause abrupt increase of equipment pressure and induce explosion and leakage of toxic substances.
    Xiao Ying, General Manager of Jinlu Group recalls that when the earthquake took place on May 12th all production facilities were shaking.
    Company managers at the production site immediately decided to conduct compulsory shutdown of running facilities according to emergency procedures. The shutdown process lasted for nearly five hours in spite of frequent aftershock.
    The huge threat was however not lifted. "In case un-treated toxic intermediates that remain in running equipment are not transformed into products, there will still be great dangers when an aftershock comes," said Xiao Ying. "Every effort should be made to transform intermediates that remain in equipment into final products." With the joint efforts of company managers and more than 800 workers, in 24 hours after the equipment shutdown, the production of remnant products in equipment was finally achieved in constant aftershocks. "It is our social duty," said Xiao Ying.