Taiwan petrochemical oprations normal despite 7.7-magnitude quake

Operations at most petrochemical plants in western Taiwan were unaffected by a major quake that struck off the eastern coast of the island early on Wednesday, but the port at Formosa Petrochemical Corp’s (FPCC) Mailiao refinery was reportedly shut.



• Quake strongest in 25 years; kills four, injures at least 50

• Temporary closure of FPCC port prompted by tsunamis



Asia Polymer Corp, CPC Corp, China American Petrochemical Co (CAPCO) and China Petrochemical Development Corp (CPDC), were running all their respective plants normally.



The same is true for the plants of Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp (FCFC), FPCC, LCY Chemical Corp, Nan Ya Plastics, Oriental Petrochemical (Taiwan) Co, TSRC Corp and USI Corp.



Taiwan is a major petrochemical producer and exporter in Asia, with manufacturing hubs in Mailiao and Kaohsiung on the western coast.



Four people were killed in Hualien County, with 26 buildings reported “to tilt or collapse”, Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said on Wednesday.



The temblor’s intensity was revised up by Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) to 7.7 from 7.5 previously, and was the strongest temblor to hit Taiwan since the 7.3-magnitude quake of 21 September 1999.