Sichuan chemical plant project suspended after Yaan earthquake
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has said it has halted a controversial chemical plant project amid concerns over its proximity to an earthquake fault line.
The statement came nine days after a 7-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan and killed at least 196 people. The temblor has reignited concerns over potential health hazards caused by the petrochemical factory in the northwestern suburbs of the 14-million-strong capital.
"We have undertaken a careful investigation into factors affecting social stability," the report said, referring to calls for protests against the plant.
Searches for "Pengzhou petrochemical plant" have been blocked on Sina Weibo, China's most popular microblogging platform, on Tuesday.
"A factory that pollutes the environment shouldn't be allowed [to operate]," said a Pengzhou resident surnamed Li, who refused to give his full name for fear of repercussions. "I would not oppose a factory that doesn't pollute next to my home."
"The discharge of poisonous gases would have a serious health impact, and could even lead to cancer," another Chengdu resident said on condition of anonymity. "Because of the Sichuan Basin's geography, air pollutants cannot thin out."
The ethylene plant, built by China's largest oil and gas producer PetroChina, with an initial investment of 38.1 billion yuan (HK$48 billion), was Sichuan province's largest investment project when it was announced.