The Shifang city area was among the most severely impacted by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake , suffering heavy loss of life and major damage to infrastructure . The centerpiece of the city 's economic revitalization efforts was to be the Sichuan Hongda Co. 's copper smelting plant . The plant was to be one of the largest in the world , and its construction was intended to spur economic growth through the creation of thousands of jobs . China 's Ministry of Environmental Protection said the $ 1.7 billion plant would refine 40,000 tons of molybdenum and 400,000 tons of copper annually . Copper smelting and refining processes can produce a variety of toxic byproducts , including mercury , sulphur dioxide , and arsenic . Residents feared these pollutants would seep into the city 's air and water supply . Critics further charged that the government had not been transparent in reviewing or disclosing information on the plant 's potential environmental impact . Ma Jun , director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs , told '' The Guardian '' that the government " only released the short version of the plant 's environmental report , which did not have information about the solid waste and waste water . " Ma added : " Heavy metal projects are always highly polluting . Of course the public has concerns about this . " Residents of the city had reportedly filed petitions against the project , but authorities took no action . Reuters reported that although many local residents supported the efforts to create jobs , they were upset by the government 's lack of consultation with the public and failure to adequately address environmental concerns
2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Shifang protest