Visakhapatnam: 7,940 MT of styrene monomer sets off on sail to South Korea

Visakhapatnam: Following the vapour leak at LG Polymers which took place at RR Venkatapuram on May 7, the State government initiated the exercise of shipping 13,000 tonnes of styrene monomer to South Korea, the plant's headquarters.

On Tuesday, the first consignment of 7,940 metric tonnes has been set off on sail to South Korea on MT Arahan vessel from Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

LG Polymers filed documents with Vizag customs to export the leftover styrene monomer lying at its bonded warehouse to its parent company located in South Korea. Vizag customs did the necessary processing before according approvals for the consignment of styrene monomer to sail off the shore.

District Collector V Vinay Chand on Tuesday said that a special vessel has been arranged to ship the chemical back to the plant's headquarters. While efforts have been made to ship 8,000 tonnes on Tuesday to South Korea, another consignment of 5,000 tonnes will be sent in the next few days, he said.

Apart from the 13,000 tonnes of styrene monomer, the rest of the gas kept at the plant's storage tanks has been solidified.

On the day the incident happened, about 1,800 tonnes styrene was there in one of the tanks of the plant, the District Collector said. "Based on the suggestions given by experts who arrived from various agencies, inhibitors have been added to counter the effect of the styrene emissions and water spraying continues in all the five villages around the plant. From 154 degree Celsius recorded on May 7 to 67 degree Celsius, the temperature has been brought under control at the plant following various containment measures suggested by the plant's management. This apart, 13,000 tonnes of styrene monomer has been shifted to vessels for shipping and are in safe condition. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has instructed to ship the styrene monomer without any further delay," explained Vinay Chand.

Of the 13,000 tonnes, 7,940 tonnes has been shipped on Tuesday night to South Korea. All arrangements are in place to ship the rest of the styrene monomer in the next couple of days in another vessel. Following the select set of procedures recommended by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Vinay Chand informed every protocol has been strictly adhered to while shipping the chemical.

Sanitation measures are going on in full swing and will continue for a week at villages near the plant. This apart medical camps will be run for the next one month in these five villages, with the help of doctors and specialists, the District Collector added.

This apart, a permanent medical camp and permanent dispensary are also on cards, he stated.

Though NEERI has given an interim report advising the locals, recommending certain measures to follow such as dumping of vegetables and groceries left open and cleaning procedures, another detailed report is awaited.

Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy, Tourism Minister Avanthi Srinivas, District in-charge Minister K Kannababu, Visakhapatnam MP M V V Satyanarayana, among others were present.