Lami residents raise concerns on clinker ship that is emitting dust

Some Lami residents who had gathered with signs outside two cement manufacturing factories to raise concerns about the emissions were dispersed by the police this morning.

The residents are raising concerns about the dust being emitted by two cement manufacturing companies during their operations and when they transport material from the Suva Wharf.

Sydel Whippy says they will not give up on the fight for clean and safe air.

Whippy says they had applied for a permit to gather but had not received a response.

She says the residents had initially gathered outside the road leading to the factories but upon dispersal by police, the residents had stood outside their homes with their signs.

Whippy says they have raised their concerns with the Ministry of Environment after which an Environment Monitoring Committee was set up in August last year.

The resident says they want the two factories to abide by the laws and not emit pollutants.

Police spokesperson, Savaira Tabua has confirmed that police had advised those standing outside the factories to disperse.

She says the organizer was also questioned, advised and released.

The Ministry of Waterways and Environment issued Prohibition Notices to the companies late last month as they suspected that the dust emitted from the operations may not be of national air quality standard.

A two weeks trial period began last week that will allow for the regular monitoring of emission levels.

Permanent Secretary for Waterways and Environment, Joshua Wycliffe says yesterday concluded week 1 of the testing and the results would be made available either today or on Monday morning.

He says the Department will jointly review the results with the companies to ascertain the potential levels of emissions.

Wycliffe says over the last week, he has met with the various team members from the two companies, including their senior leadership who have committed to ensuring that they will remain within the required standards.

He adds the Ministry will take it further as soon as the results are reviewed.

The Ministry of Waterways and Environment has lifted the Prohibition Notice for Lami based cement company, Tengy Cement Fiji however strict monitoring continues this week while the notice still remains for Pacific Cement Limited.

Lami resident, Sydel Whippy says residents are asking what is being done to ensure that the issue does not arise again.

She says they want to know what is being done by the factories to mitigate the problem.

Whippy is also enquiring if the companies have provided mitigation plans as requested in August 2020.

We have asked the Ministry and they are yet to respond.

The Ministry had earlier issued the notice to the two companies as they had suspected that the dust emitted from the operations may not be of national air quality standards.

A two week trial period allowing for the regular monitoring of emission levels began on the 2nd of April.

Permanent Secretary Joshua Wycliffe says their technical team has reviewed the readings from the tests from both factories over the last week.

He says while some of the issues have been fixed, the Department would like to extend the technical monitoring for this week as well. Tengy Cement Deputy General Manager, Tomas Choi says they have complied with the Ministry’s requirements and they resumed operations yesterday.

The Deputy General Manager says they have been working with General Machinery, the company responsible for transporting material for the Suva Wharf to their Lami factory and says they are ensuring that the emission is reduced.

Choi adds that the material is being covered with tarpaulin when it is transported in trucks and they are also spraying the road with water after their trucks have passed to ensure that the dust is reduced.

He says they have been meeting the Environment Monitoring Committee monthly which comprises of the residents and Ministry officials every month however, another meeting date has yet to be confirmed as it is hosted by the Pacific Cement.

Pacific Cement is yet to respond to our questions.

Residents of Lami have raised concerns on the clinker ship that arrived recently and is emitting dust into the air.

Lami resident Sydel Whippy says this ship has been berthed at the Suva Harbour for a while and is polluting the whole of Suva City.

Whippy says they were fortunate enough to have been assisted by the Permanent Secretary for Environment from last year where they have managed to issue the relevant Prohibition Notices to Tengy Cement Fiji and Pacific Cement Limited.

She says they will continue to raise concerns about the damage to the environment.

We have sent questions to the Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe and are awaiting his response.

The Ministry had earlier issued the notice to the two companies as they had suspected that the dust emitted from the operations may not be of national air quality standards.

A trial period allowing for the regular monitoring of emission levels was done and the ministry’s technical team has reviewed the readings from the tests from both factories.

Some residents in Lami have sought legal opinion from the Fiji Environmental Law Association on the concerns that they have been raising on the clinker ship and cement factories that are emitting dust into the air while the Permanent Secretary for Environment, Joshua Wycliffe says the residents are welcome to lodge material evidence establishing the clinker dust deposit on their cars.

The residents that fijivillage has been speaking to, are gathering evidence on the effects on the people and the environment. They are gathering evidence on how clinker is being washed off which then goes into the waters and drains, clinker dust on the road when the trucks are transporting the clinker to the factories and the dust from the factories affecting the residents.

Repeated inhalation of cement clinker dust over a long period of time increases the risk of developing lung diseases.

Lami resident Sydel Whippy says they have been raising issues for a while now and since there is no or very little response from the authorities and the cement companies, they have taken this step as they are worried about what they are breathing in.

Whippy says they have done this as they want to know where they stand at the moment in terms of fighting for their health.

She says it is so bad now as they have dust settling on their cars which cannot be removed with just the use of water.

Another Lami resident, Johnathan Smith says urgent action is needed as people are breathing in the clinker dust.

Smith says the answer is to have properly sealed containers to transport the clinker and the best international standards need to be enforced to protect the people and the environment.

Meanwhile Sydel Whippy says the Permanent Secretary for Environment, Joshua Wycliffe has responded and has told her that he is looking into the issues raised.

Whippy also says they will continue to raise concerns about the damage to the environment.

When contacted by fijivillage, Wycliffe says the team is undertaking investigative measures but strictly subjective to the existing COVID measures and is not operating as under normal times.

He says if and when a breach is established, the Department of Environment will take action, as it has done always.

The Ministry had earlier issued the notice to the two companies as they had suspected that the dust emitted from the operations may not be of national air quality standards.

A trial period allowing for the regular monitoring of emission levels was done and the ministry’s technical team has reviewed the readings from the tests from both factories.