Conservationists in Chongqing continue to have concerns about the environmental impact of a huge chemical plant, approved by Beijing last week, in the Three Gorges region.
The 8 billion yuan (HK$9.48 billion) MDI plant is to be built by German giant BASF in a new chemical park in Changshou, outside Chongqing, and start operations by 2014.
With a projected annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes of MDI - diphenylmethane diisocyanate, an organic compound used in a wide range of insulating material - the plant will be the largest of its kind.
The National Development and Reform Commission announced approval of the controversial project on Friday, after 'a stringent examination of environmental, health and safety standards, two rounds of local public consultation and several expert reviews', BASF said on its website.
The project's approval process stalled in 2009 after objections from environmental groups and residents.
BASF said the project would be built with a 'focus on safety and environmental protection'.
'We are applying world-class safety and environmental standards in the construction and operation of our facility, and at the same time we will produce products that have a direct impact on increasing energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions,' Asia-Pacific board member Dr Martin Brudermuller said.
