PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

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PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

• AIR QUALITY BILL

www.rmef.co.za
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RMEF Who are we?

• OBJECTIVE
• Develop, monitor/measure emissions form refinery
  operations in South Africa. (International
  Benchmarks!)
• Openly report (for continual improvement) on
  these emissions.
• Corporate with all stakeholders, affected and
  interested parties, NGOs and other indiustry
  players in our endeavours to minimise emissions
  or pollution.
• Share technological developments that will assist
  to minimise environmental damage due to our
  operations.
• MEMBERSHIP
• Engen and Sapref Durban, Caltex Cape Town,
  PetroSA Mossel Bay, Natref Sasolburg, Sasol
  Synfuels Secunda
• ASSOCIATION with SAPIA
• Carrying out work in parallel on fuel
  standards re transport sector.

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STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

• Economic
• RMEF members produce all liquid fuels in RSA
• They employ approximately 10 000 people on full
  time basis
• Indirect jobs close to 100 000
• Significant balance of payment contribution
• Environmental
• 4 of National SO2 emissions from crude oil
  refineries (1993)

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RMEFs ACHIEVEMENTS Past 5 years

• Common emissions management strategy
• Draft Reasonably Available Control Technology
  (RACT)
• Common reporting standards
• Establish liaison forums with interested and
  affected parties
• Government
• NGOs
• Emission reductions

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WHY THE SUBMISSION

• RMEF fully supports the New Air Quality Bill
  (AQB).
• Long overdue
• Compilers showed lots of insights
• Integrate approach
• Ample room for public participation
• Accountabilities clearly assigned
• Ambient air quality is the right driver
• However
• There are causes for concern

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Causes for Concern

• GENERAL
• Role of National Framework details not specific
• Draft Ambient AQ Standards (SANS 69 SANS 1929)
  have good summary which may be incorporated in
  the framework
• Separate provincial AQ standards not removed
• Mechanism for co-ordination across municipal
  provincial boundaries not provided for. RMEF
  proposes air shed management agencies
• Requirements for identification of priority
  areas not clearly specified. Discretionary power
  should be removed.
• Specification of pollution prevention plans and
  atmospheric impact reports required

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Causes for Concern (continued)

• LICENSING
• No guidance given on magnitude. Propose that
  guidance be given to prevent discrepancy between
  different authorities
• Streamlining of requirements for EIA and license
  application required
• Time frames for issuing licenses not specified
• Transitional period for change over to new
  licensing regime too short.
• Consultation process needs to be specified and
  extended

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Concern about Implementation

• Financial budgeting at national level will not
  be negligible.
• Information information system required for
  ambient AQ is not in place
• Guidance guidance at local and provincial
  authorities on implementation required
• Capacity building capacity at provincial and
  local level must be a priority
• Delays delay from DEAT re SANS ambient AQ
  standard setting process
• Inclusion of odour and noise this may be
  problematic what is reasonable?

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RMEF

• QUESTIONS???

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RMEF

• THANK YOU!

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