South Durban eco-alliance fights industries’ air quality compliance
THE South Durban Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and Greenpeace SA have gone to war with large industries who are attempting to apply for postponements for compliance with government’s emission standards to improve air quality.
Engen and Eskom made applications to the Department of Environmental Affairs to postpone the timeframes within which they must comply with minimum emission standards (MES), as stipulated in the Air Quality Act, 39 of 2004. The purpose of the Act to enhance the quality of ambient air to provide an environment not harmful to people. By April 2015 all existing industrial processes emitting stated substances must comply with emission limits and by April 2020, they must comply with new standards.
Engen has requested a delay of four years in order to wholly comply with the MES. Only certain of their emissions are not yet compliant. Eskom cites financial costs as a reason for its request for postponement for some of its plants and notes that emissions have a negligible impact on air quality in those areas. Eskom has applied to have an emission reduction plan of their own agreed to.
Greenpeace SA sent out a petition last week, urging people to protest against Eskom’s application and in 24 hours, received nearly 5,000 signatures. SDCEA opposes these applications and has lawyers working on counter-opposition. “What Engen is proposing undermines what then-CEO Rob Angel agreed to when President Nelson Mandela visited South Durban in 1995. He promised they had the resources to reduce these emissions and that they would start to do so,” said SDCEA co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa.
“These postponements are a way for big industries to continue to inflict harm as a result of harmful emissions which cause cancer and asthma. It’s like they are saying ‘Allow us to kill another 1,000 people, then we’ll sort out the problem,’” said D’Sa.
