Page 16 - DMEA Week 24 2022

DMEA NEWS IN BRIEF DMEA

to the idea that we could have downstream, of those living in the area. In addition to this, their freedom from having to fight the oil
upstream activities because half of the they anticipate that there would be a massive mogul.
problem is all politicized.” Naidu said. “It’s all movement of trucks that is likely to cause Kistan said this move continues to show
about politicization, this is a problem, that’s problems for those living in the area. that the oil company is hell-bent on polluting
an issue.” The refinery has for a long time been a the area and making its residents sick.
Mining analyst Peter Major says Mantashe’s thorn in the side of those living in the Durban Bongani Mthembu, air quality officer for
call to consider buying Russia’s crude oil is an South community including Merebank, the the SDCEA, said the community were there to
inane comment that ignores the plight of the Bluff, Lamontville, and Wentworth. submit a PAIA request to Engen.
Ukrainians and could reflect poorly on South Merebank resident Victor Kupsamy said “We were there because we are objecting to
Africa. they think this has been in Engen’s pipeline for the application by Engen refinery to convert
“It actually could have detrimental effects,” a while, since before the fire that affected the into a chemical storage facility because we
Major said. “It could turn a lot of people’s Wentworth families. know for a fact that Engen should not be
good will away from us here if the party keeps He said while they are against what the allowed to be a chemical storage facility
making statements like that. I mean to be company is planning they were open to because that on its own will cause a lot of
so biased, it’s just crazy. It doesn’t help the supporting a different initiative. social and environmental impacts. Social,
country. It doesn’t help the people.” “Instead of changing the refinery into a meaning there will be a lot of trucks coming
The Democratic Alliance is calling for storage facility, why not turn that place into a into the communities of Wentworth and
taxes, which form part of the fuel price, to be solar energy plant? Engen could then come to Merebank, especially knowing it’s going to be
reduced. Experts say the fuel price next month the party by financing it,” said Kupsamy. a storage facility,” said Mthembu.
could reach an unprecedented $1.69 per litre. He said the land in the area has been He said it was a fact that storage facilities
VOA polluted for too long by the oil company and relied on the movement of trucks. He cited
that was the least they could do instead of other storage facilities such as the Island View
Durban South residents bringing in more pollution and havoc to the storage facility in the Fynnland area “which
is known to be one of the largest storage
community living around it.
resist Engen plans for fuel area is already difficult with all the current facilities in the southern hemisphere”.
According to him, driving around the
Mthembu said some of the concerns raised
storage depot problems caused by the road works that need with Engen include issues such as accidents,
road damage due to the influx of trucks, and
to be done on the M4. Apart from this they
A group of angry residents of Merebank are worried about the growth of storage areas an increase in sex workers, among others.
and surrounding areas braved the rain and where containers are being housed as this was Mthembu said earlier this year they had
protested outside the Engen refinery on recently shown to be hazardous during the done a count of trucks travelling between
Wednesday, 15 June, in response to the oil floods. Basil February Road and Tara Road from 8am
giant’s plans to continue with its moves to set If it were up to him, Engen would leave the to 4pm. They found that there were more than
up a fuel storage depot in the refinery. This area and house its oil in another area. 160 trucks travelling between these roads.
comes 18 months after the same refinery was Tony Kistan, another community member “For Engen to be receiving such a high
in hot water for a fire that broke out and left from Merebank said they are concerned about number of trucks during non- -operational
families without shelter in December 2020. the constant movement of trucks once the times is a shocker to us because once it is
Earlier last year the oil company storage facility is up and running. converted to a chemical storage facility that
announced that it would close down the “We think that this expansion might lead means it’s going to be worse because we are
refinery and make way for a storage facility to thousands of trucks being on our roads. talking thousands of trucks a day. That cannot
by the end of 2023. Residents including This will also lead to us having oil spills,” said be allowed. It just cannot be allowed,” said
leaders of the activist group, the South Kistan. Mthembu.
Durban Community Environmental Alliance He said they were also concerned about James Nyawera, manager for operations
(SDCEA) vowed that they would not allow what the oil company is going to be storing in at Engen, said they had received a document
Engen’s plan to continue without a fight. the facility as it is not clear if it will be oil only. from the organisation and the community but
According to SDCEA the expansion by the Last year the community thought that had not gone through it yet.
company would further endanger the health Engen was announcing its departure – and DAILY MAVERICK

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