Local news sources report that a small fire erupted at Formosa Plastics’ (Taipei / Taiwan; www.fpc.com.tw) petrochemical complex in Mailiao / Taiwan on the night of 14 February 2013. No casualties were reported and the blaze was put out quickly. Despite having caused only limited damage, the affected bisphenol A (BPA) line, with reported output of 90,000 t/y and operated by group subsidiary Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (NPC, Taipei / Taiwan; www.npc.com.tw), was partially suspended to allow the authorities to conduct safety checks.

NPC president Wu Chia-chau told local media that the company would apply to resume production as soon as the safety inspections had been completed. He added that the temporary shutdown likely would not affect the group’s ability to supply, since it still has sufficient volumes of the PC feedstock in inventory.

The fire is the latest in a string of blazes that have plagued Formosa’s operations in Mailiao – for most recent coverage, see Plasteurope.com of 14.08.2012. The company has come under rising pressure amid popular protests calling for more environmentally friendly operation techniques and a general overhaul.