Comprehensive Support Following the 2020 LG Polymers Incident
Leading Efforts in Medical Assistance and Resident Welfare Improvement
Residents from Villages Near the Plant Join as Advisors
LG Polymers, the Indian manufacturing subsidiary of LG Chem, is strengthening its social responsibility initiatives by establishing a foundation in the local community. This move reflects the company's commitment to taking responsibility for the "LG Polymers gas leak incident," which occurred in May 2020 when process raw materials stored for a long period in a storage tank at the Indian plant leaked during the COVID-19 lockdown.
On April 28, LG Chem announced that LG Polymers' social contribution organization, the "LG India CSR Foundation," which was promoted in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, has received establishment approval from the corporate administration authorities. Shankar, the former Commissioner of Income Tax of Andhra Pradesh and a local official who previously served as the Administrator of Visakhapatnam, has been appointed as the chairman of the foundation. The foundation plans to enhance operational transparency by appointing representatives from seven villages near LG Polymers to its advisory group.
Yoonju Ko, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer (CSSO) of LG Chem (fifth from the left), met with representatives of villages near LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), India, on the 22nd. LG Chem
The local foundation will focus on supporting the sustainable growth of the community where LG Chem's Indian manufacturing subsidiary is located, as well as providing medical support and improving the welfare of residents in villages near the LG Polymers plant. Earlier this year, a health camp was held to provide medical support, during which approximately 1,100 local residents visited over five days to receive skin and respiratory examinations. Based on the results of these examinations, the foundation announced that it would determine the direction of future medical support programs. Measures to improve resident welfare, such as water supply and vocational training, are also under consideration.
Shin Hakcheol, Vice Chairman of LG Chem, stated, "The establishment of the LG Polymers Foundation aims not only to provide support but also to promote the sustainable development of the local community." He added, "We will carry out a variety of social responsibility activities in close cooperation with village residents and government departments." Last year, Vice Chairman Shin, together with LG Chem’s top management, visited the site in India to meet with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and residents living near the plant. At that time, he announced an additional support plan worth approximately 1.2 billion rupees (20 billion KRW) and, to date, has provided living support payments to about 6,000 households in villages near the site of the incident.
Furthermore, through new investments, LG Polymers is operating a high-value-added synthetic resin (ABS) compound plant with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons in Sri City, which is about 780 km away from LG Polymers. LG Polymers has continuously carried out social responsibility activities for the development of the local community, including providing designated hospital medical services, supplying water trucks, and donating key materials for oxygen generators.
Meanwhile, Yoonju Ko, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer (CSSO) of LG Chem, has also been visiting the site in Visakhapatnam since the 22nd to meet directly with local residents and their representatives.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
