China’s State Administration of Work Safety has conducted a national survey of oil pipeline safety after oil leaked into sewage pipes in Qingdao last November 22 and the resulting explosion killed 62 people.
The survey found oil pipelines in hazardous condition all over the country. Huang Yi, spokesman for the work safety watchdog, said, “Some of the problems are staggering.”
Many pipelines are more than 40 years old and suffer from erosion and weakening. China has more than 655 oil pipelines. The inspectors found more than 20,000 potential hazards.
