Andhra Pradesh gas leak: Here's all you need to know about LG Polymers
An exclusive report stated the history of LG Polymers and its functioning over the years. The industry is involved in manufacturing of polystyrene which needs to be stored in 20 degree temperature to retain its liquid form.
FollowVisakhapatnam: An exclusive report on LG Polymers stated that the industry was established in 1961 as M/s Hindustan Polymers. Later, it was taken over by LG Chemical Limited from South Korea; Hindustan Polymers and was renamed as LG Polymers India Private Limited (LGPI).
M/s LG Polymers (India) Private Limited, Sy.No 29 to 45,83/1 and 83/3,RR Venkatapuram village, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is a large unit which was established in 1969 with an investment of Rs 54.28 crore and was expanded in 2018 with investment of Rs 45 crores with connected load of 2490KVA/2670HP.
The industry is involved in manufacturing of polystyrene with capacity of 235 MTD and expandable polystyrene with capacity of 45 MTD (Mfg of Engineering plastics by blending, mixing and extrusion with 1100MTA). It provides direct employment to 363 people and 70 people are indirectly employed by the industry. Manufacturing of polystyrene requires styrene as a predominant raw material.
Styrene is a colourless liquid and requires less than 20 degrees of temperature to maintain its liquid state and evaporates easily if the temperature crosses 20 degrees. The unit is storing styrene in liquid form in storage tanks with 2000 metric tonnes of capacity.
M/s LG Polymers (India) Private Limited is under complete lockdown for the past 40 days and operations are yet to begin in a day or two. District Industries Centre,Visakhapatnam have issued 45 duty passes during lockdown for the maintenance of styrene due to its evaporating nature.
Early today (April 7) at 4 am sudden fumes of styrene leaked out from storage tanks with a pungent smell.
8 people died and the public in the nearby vicinity who were exposed to the gas have been admitted to hospitals as per the official announcement of Visakhapatnam district collector V Vinay Chand.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh DGP Gautam Sawang said, "No case has been booked so far, we need to Investigate whether the gas leakage was an accident or negligence on part of the LG Polymers India."
