On March 21, Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd. in Chenjiagang Town, Xiangshui City, Jiangsu Province, suffered a major explosion, causing heavy casualties.

On the 4th of this month, Yancheng City proposed to completely shut down the Xiangshui Chemical Industry Park and support the construction of “Zhuhua District” in various regions. In this regard, there are different voices in society.

Some people "talk about change", and feel that if the chemical industry is so dangerous, it should be said "no" thoroughly, and it will be closed once and for all.

Others believe that this is a typical "one-size-fits-all" approach. It is reasonable to rectify and even shut down serious illegal chemical companies. However, the "one size fits all" closure of the entire park not only hurts innocent people, but also squanders food.

In addition, there are people who ask: If there is a fire in the forest, will there be a "no forest area"; if the bridge collapses, will there be a "bridge-free zone"; if there is an air crash, it will not fly... Chemical companies Who will bear the cost of relocation and reconstruction?

Is it safe and environmentally friendly to eliminate the chemical industry? Without the chemical industry, what is it to support modern industrial, agricultural, military, aerospace, transportation, information industry and national economic development? How to improve people's lives and how to move towards a well-off society?

These questions are not without reason.

The chemical industry is a pillar industry in Jiangsu Province and an important basic and supportive industry in China. If we simply abandon the chemical industry, the autonomy of industrial development, the competitiveness of national development, and the sustainability of economic development will be greatly weakened.

In 2016, in a question and answer community, someone asked questions: Can a country without a chemical plant?

One of the netizens’ answers was recently turned over by everyone and instantly caught fire. The netizen said:

"No. At least China should encourage healthy and sustainable development!

From the perspective of people's livelihood, the chemical industry is closely related to your food, clothing and housing. Without it, you can only return to the Stone Age.

From an economic point of view, in 2015, the chemical industry accounted for more than 20% of the country's total GDP, far exceeding the GDP brought by real estate. Because the chemical industry is a basic industry, there is no chemical industry, where is the steel, cement, concrete?

From an environmental point of view, the chemical industry does have pollution problems, but this does not mean that the problem can not be solved. The New Environmental Protection Law and the “Water Ten Articles” (full name “Water Pollution Prevention Action Plan”), which were implemented on New Year’s Day in 2015, and the policies of retreating into the park (that is, enterprises letting out the land in the city and developing in the development zone) are all policies. When I think of ways to solve the problem step by step, I have to eat it bit by bit.

From the public's impression, the chemical industry has been demonized too much. Ordinary people mention chemical or chemical first reaction is pollution. How many people have known how much pollution will be? Is it controllable? What are the pros and cons?

I remember that in 2015, a domestic brand of cosmetics advertisements were broadcast on TV stations, and the phrase “We hate chemistry” was repeated because of brainwashing, and it was attacked by public opinion. Later, the Chinese Chemical Society sent a letter to CCTV, asking the TV station to revoke the advertisement and publicly apologize. The slogan “We hate chemistry” has caused serious damage to the chemical image and misleading the public's correct understanding of chemistry. The controversial advertisement was subsequently removed. ”

The netizen also gave an example:

“Chemical companies are not built in the city. Take Singapore, where the chemical industry is very developed:

The picture shows the world-famous Jurong Chemical Park in Singapore. The international giants such as Royal Dutch Shell, American Exxon Mobil, American Chevron, DuPont, BASF, Sumitomo Chemical of Japan and Mitsui Chemicals of Japan are concentrated here. . How much does this chemical park account for the entire country of Singapore? However, Singapore still has a beautiful environment and the locals are doing well.

In fact, security issues, no matter who will be replaced, will take time. Neglecting the existing practical problems of blind anger is not necessarily a good thing for the development of the entire chemical industry and the human living environment. ”

Finally, the netizen also said: "DuPont, BASF, Dow and other chemical giants have been developed for hundreds of years. In addition to a few of China's chemical companies can have a history of thirty or forty years, most of them are recruits. Eggs. I just want to say: The revolution has not been successful, and comrades still need to work hard...

It is unscientific to enjoy the benefits brought about by the rapid development of various industries, but not to accept the various difficult problems brought about by extensive development. ”

Looking at life, almost no one can leave the chemical industry. Chemistry is everywhere, and it has changed the world we live in.

Chemistry as a central subject, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical biology, etc. are all branches of chemistry; it is chemical engineering, life sciences, materials science, environmental science, pharmacy, The foundation of related disciplines such as medicine.

Some people "talk about change" because the potential environmental risks and safety risks of the chemical industry are quite large.

However, the potential risk is not equal to the factual risk. Whether it is the development of the chemical industry or other industries, the way to prevent risks is not a matter of shutting it down, but implementing preventive measures better, finer and more closely. Because there is a risk, simply saying "no", which is generally the same as "putting the child and bath water together" is also an irresponsible and lack of responsibility.

In addition, practice has proved that the safety of the chemical industry lies in whether the production equipment, safety measures, personnel training, system guarantees, and regulatory measures are absolutely reliable and strictly implemented.

In some places, the chemical industry has accidents and dangers, and in-depth analysis can reveal various reasons -

▲ Some places do not have the advantages and conditions to undertake the transfer of chemical industry. They lack the chemical industry workers with certain knowledge reserves and skills training, and lack the processing equipment and capabilities of hazardous waste products. They can still build their own chemicals for the short-term benefit. The industrial park, obviously, should be decisively closed and completely rectified.

▲In some places, chemical production is at the low end of the industrial chain, with low safety factor, heavy environmental pollution, low added value of products, and high potential risks. If it is allowed to be extensively developed without being rectified and upgraded, it will be indulged in “low-end locking”. It may bring great hidden dangers and even implicate those high-quality, high-end chemical industries.

▲ Some local chemical industries have a good foundation in the past. Because of the aging of plant equipment, the new development of related industries, and the new requirements for environmental protection, they can’t keep up with the pace of the times. Standards, for such a company, you can't simply "one size fits all".

Renovation and upgrading of the chemical industry is not to avoid the chemical industry, no longer develop the chemical industry, but to develop the chemical industry with high quality, high efficiency and high safety. On the one hand, it is necessary to completely eliminate the small chemical industry with low safety factor and heavy environmental pollution by the will of the strong man to break the wrist. On the other hand, it cannot go to the extreme of “talking about color change”.

Do not follow the law, violently intervene in the enterprise, before the investment attracts "digging into the basket is the dish", after the problem has been closed "one size fits all" to shut down the enterprise, in the case of the accident has not yet concluded the investigation, eagerly "strong man broken wrist." This practice is not only simple and rude, but also an escape problem.

On April 8th, the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee held a meeting to discuss the “Jiangsu Province Chemical Industry Safety and Environmental Protection Improvement Plan” and proposed “to view the chemical industry in a comprehensive and dialectical manner, adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts, and to promote the chemical industry in Jiangsu Province. Improve work."

Enterprises that meet the safety production and environmental protection standards must support technological transformation and improve the industrial chain, overall planning, and one enterprise and one policy. This is the rational judgment and decision on the development of the chemical industry. What we will do is not to avoid the chemical industry, to develop the chemical industry, but to develop the chemical industry with high quality, high efficiency and high safety.