- Submission by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance
To the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Energy
June 4, 2001
Problems
In South Durban, there have been a number of pipeline and storage facility leaks. The most well-known being the tetra-ethyl tank (TEL) leak by Shell and BP which resulted in the local community being exposed to 26 tons in March 2001. In July 2001, community people discovered a leak of the Shell and BP pipeline. More than 1 million litres of petrol was discovered by the middle of 2002.
More than 150 kilometres of outdated pipelines run alongside and through the suburbs of poor communities of South Durban. The poor conditions of the pipeline, and lack of care taken during pipeline activities have led to several large leaks over the past few years.
These pipeline incidents have caused damage to the environmental and have endangers the health and safety of communities that live along side it.
Despite the years of insistent claims of neighbours and residents in the area, Shell, BP and Engen management refuse to replace the pipelines. According to their senior management replacement is only needed in some places and there is noting further wrong with the lines. Nevertheless leaks have occurred at spots that Shell and BP have tested and found satisfactory or had repaired. The management of Shell, BP and Engen have been talking to community groups for the last seven years, however, talking does not solve the problem the management need to take a decision to replace their aging pipelines.
These companies have been making record profits and there can be no excuse for not taking responsibility to replace their leaking pipelines.
The oil companies senior management has refused to make information unconditionally accessible and available to the communities. They have also sought to use the old apartheid legislation to withhold human health risk assessments.
The Bill presently on the table does not guarantee a change in this practise and therefore fails to protect people who are impacted upon by these activities.
Recommendations
The Bill must contain:
Access to information for communities
Government should have direct responsibility/control over pipelines, no to self- regulation
Sanctions with compensation for those affected, and not voluntary measures of compliance
Best available international standards should be introduced and enforced, i.e. with regard to replacing old pipelines