Fossil Fools in South Durban

The Right to Know, the Duty to Inquire, the Obligation to Act

Dear Engen Oil Refinery,

We, the political ecology students of a tertiary education institute, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), groundWork and concerned residents of Durban, demand environmental justice in south Durban! These historically disadvantaged communities still experience the unequal discriminatory distribution of environmental hazards resulting largely from the poor operations of refineries in that area namely, Engen (Petronas) and Sapref (Shell and BP). These refineries display a blatant disregard for the health and wellbeing of both the surrounding environment and the communities. As a result, and in celebration of Fossil Fools Day 2008, we demand: 

• Local, provincial and national authorities improve data collection on the refinery industry, including flare monitoring of volumes and content of flare gas, extension to measure for other noxious chemicals otherwise ignored, as well as video monitoring.
• When information on emissions is provided by the refineries, this needs to be independently verified as a point of law.
• All Environmental Impact Assessments must take account of cumulative impacts and be reviewed by the authorities or any other independent party and be widely advertised to the local public.
• A reform in the gas market, so that excess gas can easily be utilized by industries both locally and nationally.
• In Alberta, if the refinery operators do not solve a flaring problem, the public can submit a written objection to the EUB (Energy and Utilities Board). The board will then consider the application for a permit and the objection. We demand similar legislation here that acknowledges residents as being crucial in terms off public participation and for bringing potential problems to the fore.
• Enforcement of any permitting system to ensure that the industry is accountable.
• Skilled personnel and specialists in the refinery field to be introduced in local, provincial and national departments, as well as in community organizations.
• The MPP Monitoring Stations are improved to function at all times, especially when flaring incidents are occurring, and to measure a larger number of chemicals emitted by the refineries.
• A reduction in the need for flaring through more efficient operating procedures and Best Available Technology (BAT) at the refineries, with flare gas recovery systems being of a sufficient size to handle most upsets.
• In order to reduce flaring incidents and accidents, that the refineries and power suppliers look at alternative power sources and back up systems for when there are power failures that cause the supply to the refineries to be interrupted.
• That both Sapref and Engen calculate the carbon emitted not by assuming high combustion efficiency but rather, by measuring actual combustion efficiency.
• Furthermore, we demand that the actual efficiency in the destruction of hydrogen sulphide within a flaring system is measured.
• Engen and Sapref provides an interval for their maintenance cycle to the public.
• Engen and Sapref introduce vapour recovery systems. (where though %u2013 Engen has made some modification to recapture benzene.  We need to be clear about this.)
• Engen makes clear their position on the addition of auxiliary fuels added to flares as the statement that they do not do this is in contradiction with their project in progress to develop the use of Methane.
• Engen adopts a better attitude in dealing with its public and correctly trains its public liaison officers to properly handle and understand the opinion of people on the street.
• Engen should publicly and in a transparent way illustrate profits and exact community investments for civil analysis, comment and application.