Scuffles as Ningbo residents step up chemical plant protest

Demonstrators clashed with riot police in central Ningbo yesterday, as protests against the proposed expansion of a Sinopec plant drew the largest crowds yet.

Scuffles were reported outside the city government headquarters and in the central Tianyi Square, where more than a thousand turned up to air concerns about pollution from the oil refinery and chemical plant expansion in the Zhejiang province seaport.

The Ningbo plant produces 500,000 tonnes of paraxylene, or PX, a year, which can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. Chronic exposure can result in death.

Xinhua said the expansion, which would increase oil-refining capacity by 15 million tonnes and annual ethylene-production capacity by 1.2 million tonnes, met environmental requirements.

Protesters began gathering at Tianyi Square at around 9am, carrying banners and chanting slogans. Later, they assembled outside the government headquarters. Some wore glasses and masks to protect against tear gas and shouted: "[We] would rather be beaten to death than poisoned to death."

One witness told the Sunday Morning Post that many protesters had been taken away by the police. "An increasing number of anti-riot policemen have arrived at the scene, and they're all well equipped," he said.