A month after the "321" explosion in Xiangshui, Jiangsu, a chemical explosion also occurred in Inner Mongolia.

According to Xinhua News Agency, at around 2:55 am on April 24th, a workshop of Inner Mongolia Yidong Group Dongxing Chemical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Dongxing Chemical") located in Zhuozi County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia, exploded. After preliminary investigation, the accident has caused 3 deaths and 5 injuries. The injured have been sent to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Dongxing Chemical is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inner Mongolia Yidong Resources Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Yidong Group"), registered in Xiaying Industrial Zone, Zhuozi County, Ulanqab City. Yidong Group, formerly known as the state-owned enterprise Zhungeer Banner Coal Industry Company, was founded in 1985 and is now a joint-stock private enterprise.

Yidong Group currently has total assets of 39.2 billion yuan and 13 subsidiaries, covering four major sectors: coal, chemical, non-metallic, and real estate.

Previously received administrative penalties for illegally dumping hazardous waste containing mercury

According to a reporter from The Paper, Dongxing Chemical was administratively punished three years ago for illegally transporting and dumping hazardous waste.

In June 2016, Inner Mongolia Yidong Group Dongxing Chemical Co., Ltd. illegally transferred two trucks totaling 80 tons of waste mercuric chloride catalyst to Henan without notifying the Zhuozi County Environmental Protection Bureau. Among them, 39 tons were illegally dumped in Henan and detained for two months. It is understood that this batch of hazardous waste was originally supposed to be transported to Tongxin Mercury Industry Co., Ltd. in Tongren City, Guizhou Province for processing. According to the National Hazardous Waste List, waste mercuric chloride catalyst belongs to hazardous waste and requires specialized chemical enterprises with qualifications for treatment. In 2016, there were six qualified enterprises nationwide.

In the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by calcium carbide method, mercuric chloride catalyst is used as the catalyst for the synthesis of vinyl chloride (VCM) from acetylene and hydrogen chloride. Waste mercury containing catalyst generated during the production of polyvinyl chloride by calcium carbide method. Mercury catalyst is listed in the National Hazardous Waste List (category "HW29 Mercury containing Waste", waste code "900-022-29", hazardous characteristic "T") due to its high concentration of HgCl2 and toxicity.

In August 2016, the official website of Ulanqab Municipal Government announced an administrative penalty of 20000 yuan against Dongxing Chemical, and ordered Dongxing Chemical to hold accountable and punish the relevant responsible persons.

文章來源：新浪新聞