China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has sacked three bosses held responsible for the explosion at its Jilin Petroleum and Chemical Company that led to a severe chemical spill, according to a Xinhua report Monday.

The blast on November 13 caused about 100 tons of pollutants containing hazardous benzene and its derivatives to leak into the Songhua River.

According to the report which quoted Monday's China Oil News, Jiang Jiemin, vice-president and the deputy secretary of the Leading Group of CNPC CPC Committee, announced last Sunday that three people had been dismissed.

Yu Li, manager of the Jilin company, was removed from his position and will go through the inspection of the working teams from the State Council and Jilin Province.

Shen Dian, former manager of CNPC's Liaoyang branch, was appointed as his successor.

Jiang also ordered the Jilin company to sack Shen Dongming, director of the plant where the blast occurred, and Wang Fang, superintendent of the benzene workshop.

Jiang said that the blast had caused "severe water environment pollution to the Songhua River," thus "exerting great influence to the life and economic development for the residents living along the river."

He added the pollution incident had "aroused huge attention from the international community and tarnished the overall image of CNPC."

Jiang, however, went on to praise Yu's achievement in saving the Jilin company from deficit during his three years' management and his efforts after the blast to try to limit the number of casualties.

Source: China Daily