Question NW2290 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
28 August 2017 - NW2290
Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether (a) Eskom and (b) Sasol meet the latest minimum emission standards as prescribed in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, Act 39 of 2004; if not, (i) why not in each case and (ii) what steps will be taken to ensure compliance with the specified standards in each case?
Reply:
(a) and (b) First, let me state that the legislation to establish minimum emission standards was promulgated in 2010 and there were a lot of existing industries in the country already at that time.
As such, the legislation provided a transitional arrangement in the form of “postponement of compliance timeframes” to give industries time to invest towards the required compliance without major disruptions in the economy. Prior to the minimum emission standards (MES) coming into effect on 01 April 2015, Eskom and Sasol applied for postponement of compliance timeframes with the MES as provided for in the legislation. In their respective postponement applications, both Eskom and Sasol provided justification and reasons for applying for postponement.
(i) These are big facilities, each with a number of listed activities/units on site. It is worth noting that some of the units within these facilities were already in compliance with the MES and hence did not require postponement so, the postponement applications were for some units whose technology for compliance was still being investigated or developed. The Department, therefore, expects compliance with both the MES for those units that did not require postponements and with postponement conditions for those units granted postponements.
On-site compliance monitoring inspections are conducted by Environmental Management Inspectors from my Department, Provincial Environmental Departments and Municipalities. In addition, facilities are required to conduct emissions monitoring continuously and/or periodically and submit emissions monitoring reports to the Licensing Authorities (District Municipalities and Provinces) for review; which they do.
(ii) It must also be noted that numerous compliance inspections and enforcement actions have been undertaken on majority of these facilities. In addition to the above, the Department has
pro-actively purchased its own Air Quality Monitor and has to be used to monitor real time emissions and gather its own database on compliance.
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