TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After a heavy oil leak triggered a fire, Kaohsiung’s Environmental Protection Bureau ordered CPC Dalin Refinery to halt the affected process on Friday.
Kaohsiung Fire Department received a report of a blaze at the refinery in Xiaogang District around 2 p.m., dispatching 10 vehicles and 22 personnel. The fire was brought under control by 4 p.m., and no injuries or entrapments were reported, according to CNA.
Investigators confirmed that a leak in the fifth catalytic cracking unit’s heat exchanger triggered the fire, violating Article 32 of the Air Pollution Control Act. The bureau will impose a fine ranging from NT$100,000 (US$3125) to NT$5 million and mandated that the affected process within the unit remain shut down until inspections confirm it is safe to resume operations.
Officials warned that smoke from the ongoing fire, carried by southerly to southeasterly winds, may affect nearby districts including Qianzhen, Xiaogang, Fengshan, Lingya, Xinxing, Qianjin, Sanmin, and Gushan. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) also called for residents to remain indoors.
Residents are advised to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and wear masks if going outside. The bureau urged the refinery to enhance equipment inspections and process safety management to prevent future fires and pollution incidents.
