On August 28, the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) submitted materials to Weifang Intermediate People's Court and filed environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) against Shandong Changyi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. of China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) for illegal sale of ordinary diesel oil with sulfur content not up to the standard to logistics and transportation enterprises, causing air pollution and infringing on public interests. The Weifang Intermediate People’s Court has examined the litigation materials and filed a case on the spot.
Changyi Petrochemical Company is a large petrochemical enterprise which produces more than ten kinds of national standard gasoline, diesel, and liquefied gas from crude oil and fuel oil. Its annual output of diesel oil reaches 2.8 million tons per year.
In August 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment found that Changyi Petrochemical was suspected of illegally producing and selling IV ordinary diesel oil. When it asked for further investigation, Changyi Petrochemical refused to cooperate, did not provide relevant accounts, and fabricated relevant records. On November 1, 2018, the Third Central Inspection Team on Eco-environmental Protection was stationed in Shandong Province to carry out "Looking Back". The inspection team once again inspected the site, demanding that Changyi Petrochemical provide storage and transportation account, Changyi Petrochemical still refused to provide and continued to fabricate lies to provide false materials. After repeated supervision by the inspection team, the relevant departments intensified their investigation and punishment. It was found that Changyi Petrochemical Company illegally sold ordinary diesel oil to logistics and transportation enterprises in the name of fuel oil in 2018. On January 4, 2019, the Quality and Technology Supervision Bureau of Weifang imposed administrative penalties on the defendant for his illegal acts.
The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution clearly stipulates that "it is forbidden to sell ordinary diesel oil and other non-motor vehicle fuels to automobiles and motorcycles". In 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued the Notice on Further Promoting the Quality Upgrading of Refined Oil and Strengthening Market Management, further clarifying that "it is strictly forbidden to sell ordinary diesel and other non-motor vehicle fuels to automobiles and motorcycles".
In modern civilization, the automobile has become an indispensable means of transportation for human beings. With the rapid development of the automobile industry, the pollution of automobile exhaust also brings about air pollution. The use of fuel oil with high sulfur content in automobiles will increase the emission of PM2.5, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants in the exhaust gas. With the rapid development of the economy and the increase of social needs, the use of automobiles will increase dramatically. Controlling automobile exhaust emission is an important method to reduce air pollution. As a large petrochemical enterprise, Changyi Petrochemical Company knows that its behavior of selling ordinary diesel oil whose sulfur content does not conform to the standard will inevitably cause serious air pollution. It still illegally sells ordinary diesel oil whose sulfur content does not conform to the standard in spite of the laws and regulations of the state. Its behavior has affected the prevention and control of air pollution in Shandong Province, and also has a negative impact on the atmospheric environment in the surrounding areas, harming the social and public interests, so it must bear the corresponding legal responsibility.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
Original Chinese article:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/52tWo_5eupY0v-ovkgMF_g
By / Li Xue