By Baek Byung-yeul
LG Chem has dispatched an eight-member response team including an executive vice president (EVP) to India to handle the aftermath of a deadly gas leak at its plant there that killed at least 12 people and sickened around 1,000, the company said Wednesday.
LG Group's chemical affiliate said EVP Noh Kug-lae, who handles the company's petrochemical division, left for India accompanied by seven other senior executives and officials specializing in manufacturing processes and environmental safety.
After the accident occurred in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam, May 7, the chemical company immediately created a taskforce, led by CEO Shin Hak-cheol. LG Chem said Shin has run the internal taskforce from LG's headquarters in Korea.
LG Chem said the team will help Indian authorities' ongoing investigation into the accident. The LG response team has also been tasked on initiating recovery plans in a timely manner.
"We dispatched the team to India today. As investigating the cause of the accident and the prevention of a recurrence are the first priority, it includes specialists in manufacturing and environmental safety," the company said. "The team's leader will meet with the bereaved families and residents who suffered from the accident to explain our compensation program. He also plans to meet with local government officials," it added.
Though entry to India is restricted because the government there has imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, the support team was admitted following inter-government negotiations.
Even though the company said it will do its utmost to help victims and families resolve any pending issues and provide all available assistance to the bereaved, the situation is not looking good as LG is under pressure to completely shut down the factory.
The local government has ordered LG Polymers, an Indian affiliate of LG Chem, to return a stockpile of 13,000 tons of styrene, used to manufacture plastics and rubber, to Korea. Local media said 8,000 tons have already been shipped out.
The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims, a coalition of victims' groups and other labor groups across Asia, issued a statement after the accident, urging LG Chem to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the gas leak and to include members of the public and representatives of victims.
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| LG Chem EVP Noh Kug-lae |
LG Group's chemical affiliate said EVP Noh Kug-lae, who handles the company's petrochemical division, left for India accompanied by seven other senior executives and officials specializing in manufacturing processes and environmental safety.
After the accident occurred in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam, May 7, the chemical company immediately created a taskforce, led by CEO Shin Hak-cheol. LG Chem said Shin has run the internal taskforce from LG's headquarters in Korea.
LG Chem said the team will help Indian authorities' ongoing investigation into the accident. The LG response team has also been tasked on initiating recovery plans in a timely manner.
"We dispatched the team to India today. As investigating the cause of the accident and the prevention of a recurrence are the first priority, it includes specialists in manufacturing and environmental safety," the company said. "The team's leader will meet with the bereaved families and residents who suffered from the accident to explain our compensation program. He also plans to meet with local government officials," it added.
Though entry to India is restricted because the government there has imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, the support team was admitted following inter-government negotiations.
Even though the company said it will do its utmost to help victims and families resolve any pending issues and provide all available assistance to the bereaved, the situation is not looking good as LG is under pressure to completely shut down the factory.
The local government has ordered LG Polymers, an Indian affiliate of LG Chem, to return a stockpile of 13,000 tons of styrene, used to manufacture plastics and rubber, to Korea. Local media said 8,000 tons have already been shipped out.
The Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims, a coalition of victims' groups and other labor groups across Asia, issued a statement after the accident, urging LG Chem to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the gas leak and to include members of the public and representatives of victims.
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