Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer JinkoSolar has unveiled new information regarding a leak of hazardous material from its manufacturing plant in Haining City, east China.
The company said on 20 August, as a result of a change in local regulation, the waste management company that was due to collect JinkoSolar's solid waste until 4 June 2012 ceased collection at the Haining facility.
JinkoSolar said that during the six day period that it took for the company to find another contractor, solid waste volume outgrew warehouse storage capabilities. As a result it temporarily stored the by-product in covered bins outside the warehouse and the company suspects that heavy rains on 24 and 25 August may have caused waste to leak into the local river channel via the factory compound drainage system. It said this is possibly the source of elevated fluoride levels in the river that caused the death of fish in the water.
The company said that rumours began circulating on 5 September, including photos on the internet of dead fish in the water channel, and that it promptly took action to clean up the affected area in compliance with local government regulations. It also agreed, on 7 September, to pay compensation for any crop damage as well as for the death of any livestock or wildlife affected by the incident, which is still under investigation from the local authority.
On 17 September, JinkoSolar closed the production facility and it remains closed at the time of writing.