space Press Releases, News Stories

by Chiu Yu-Tzu, Taipei Times

The waste has been stored at a Kaohsiung harbor wharf, but port authorities and officials from a shipping company leasing the wharf to FPG said yesterday that they would not be willing to allow the waste to stay any longer.

The waste was originally shipped illegally to Cambodia and dumped there.

Widespread publicity following discovery of the waste and subsequent pressure from the international environmental community forced FPG to ship the waste -- more than 4,600 tons, packed in 357 metal cargo containers -- back to Kaohsiung in April this year.

Since then FPG has been trying to ship the waste to other countries such as the United States and France for proper waste processing, but has been hampered by difficulties in identifying the exact components of the waste.

FPG has also sought to store the waste at a temporary site adjoining a company facility at Jenwu Township, Kaohsiung County but the proposal has brought vigorous protests from local residents. At a public hearing held by FPG earlier this year, residents walked out to show their opposition.

More recently, having learned about the difficulties FPG has faced both locally and abroad in arranging for alternative storage sites, Kaohsiung port authorities said they are wary of the possibility that a fourth extension will be given today, for a temporary import permit for the shipment granted by the Environmental Protection Administration.

Extensions have previously been given in June, August and September.

As of yesterday, neither port authorities nor Wan Hai Lines, whose space is being used, said they would be willing to keep the waste for FPG longer.

Port authorities said yesterday that officials from Wan Hai Lines, who have rented out No. 63 Wharf to FPG for more than NT$20,000 per day, were complaining of limited space at the wharf.

"We really don't want to keep the waste for Formosa any longer. It has already been harmful to our business," said Hsu Ching-chih, manager of the Wan Hai Lines general affairs section at Wharf 63.

Port authorities have also expressed worries about potential environmental pollution problems generated by the waste during the typhoon season, which could influence the management and operations of the port.

"Storing hazardous industrial waste using these temporary methods is questionable. These 357 metal cargo containers have been out in the sun for months, and have recently been exposed to heavy rain," said Kaohsiung Harbormaster Huang Kuo-ying.

Huang told the Taipei Times that recently port authorities had learned indirectly from FPG that the company would ask for a six-month extension from the EPA, and were still communicating with them about the request.

However, neither the port authorities nor Wan Hai Lines appeared ready to accept such a decision.