Fire at PVC Factory in Thailand; Firm Partially Suspended

Following a fire incident at the Thai Plastic and Chemicals Plc (TPC) plant in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong’s Muang district on Sunday, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has ordered a partial suspension of Thai Plastic and Chemicals Plc (TPC)

The fire, caused by a chemical leak, erupted at around Sunday noon near the vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production unit and was brought under control approximately two hours later. The company detected the leak at 12:10 p.m., which led to a blaze and smoke. Fortunately, there were no casualties. The fire was officially contained by 2 p.m., and the leak was fully stopped by 3:05 p.m.

According to the media reports, Sumet Tangprasert, acting governor of IEAT, announced that the suspension of operations falls under Section 39 of the Factory Act. The IEAT mandated the temporary halt of VCM production and associated equipment for a comprehensive safety inspection and evaluation by third-party experts. The factory’s fire and safety systems will also be thoroughly reviewed to prevent any future incidents. In addition, environmental conditions in the surrounding areas are being closely monitored, and the company is responsible for properly treating any wastewater contaminated by chemicals.

The IEAT has also outlined the necessity of both short-term and long-term prevention measures. TPC must seek approval from the IEAT before resuming activities in the affected areas. Compensation for those impacted by the fire will be provided, and ongoing monitoring of air quality is required. Air quality checks by the Environmental Monitoring and Control Centre revealed that the VCM levels in downwind areas still require 24-hour surveillance to ensure public safety. Sumet also noted that no contaminated water was found in the factory’s drainage system. Additionally, TPC has been directed to conduct further air quality assessments in 40 nearby communities to safeguard residents’ health.

Map Ta Phut Mayor Thawin Phothibuathong declared that the situation had returned to normal, leading to the lifting of the emergency status. On Sunday, TPC declared a Level 2 emergency due to the heavy smoke from the fire. The VCM1 unit, where the fire occurred, is one of four buildings within the TPC factory compound.

TPC, a leading manufacturer and distributor of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) products, produces a wide range of items, including resin, compounds, and chemicals, for various industrial applications. The company is now focused on resolving the incident and ensuring the safety of its operations moving forward.