A major chemical explosion at Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd. in Xiangshui County, Jiangsu Province, China, on March 21, 2019, resulted in 78 deaths, 76 severe injuries, 640 hospitalizations, and direct economic losses of 1.986 billion RMB. On November 30, courts sentenced 7 defendant entities and 53 individuals across 22 criminal cases, highlighting severe safety and environmental violations that overseas chemical buyers should monitor for supply-chain compliance and regulatory risks.
Incident and root causes
The explosion occurred at 14:48 local time on March 21, 2019, in the Xiangshui Ecological Chemical Park. Tianjiayi had long illegally stored nitrification waste, which self-ignited due to heat buildup. The company ignored environmental and safety laws, with chaotic management being the primary cause. Its parent company, Jiangsu Nijiiaxiang Group, appointed key managers and approved major decisions, including launching a m-phenylenediamine production line despite inadequate technology and equipment.
Parent company and management liability
Nijiiaxiang Group and Tianjiayi jointly decided on illegal practices. Despite knowing the nitrification waste was toxic, flammable, and stored unsafely, the group failed to strengthen safety management or stop the illegal storage, leading to catastrophic casualties and property losses. The group and its responsible individuals were held criminally liable. Tianjiayi also illegally burned hazardous waste, causing severe environmental pollution.
Government and intermediary negligence
Six intermediary agencies, including the Yancheng Environmental Monitoring Center, issued false documents. Local environmental and emergency management departments failed in daily supervision and复产验收 (resumption inspection), contributing to the accident. Some public officials were also found guilty of bribery. These entities and individuals faced criminal charges for dereliction of duty and providing false certificates.
Sentencing details
Key sentences include: Zhang Qinyue, former Tianjiayi general manager, received 20 years in prison and a 1.55 million RMB fine for illegal storage of hazardous substances, environmental pollution, and bribery. Nijiiaxiang Group was fined 20 million RMB, with former and current chairmen Wu Yuezhong and Ni Chengliang sentenced to 12 and 13 years, respectively. Other Tianjiayi executives received 6-9 years, while safety personnel got 1.5-5 years. Intermediary agencies were fined 100,000-1 million RMB, with 22 individuals sentenced to 9 months to 4 years. Fifteen public officials received 3.25-7.5 years for dereliction of duty and bribery.
What buyers should watch
This case underscores the critical importance of rigorous supplier audits for chemical sourcing from China. Overseas importers and distributors should verify that suppliers comply with environmental and safety regulations, especially regarding hazardous waste storage and disposal. The closure of Xiangshui Chemical Park and heightened enforcement signal stricter regulatory oversight, potentially affecting supply availability and pricing for chemicals like m-phenylenediamine and nitrification-related products.
Source: Read the original report | Published: November 30, 2020