More families in the Durban area surrounding the Sapref refinery may be forced to move after the detection of high pollution levels resulting from the leakage of about 750 000 litres of petrol in July.
More families in the Durban area surrounding the Sapref refinery may be forced to move after the detection of high pollution levels resulting from the leakage of about 750 000 litres of petrol in July.
At the time of the incident, only families from the first row of houses were moved from their homes, but Sapref now believes that the area affected by the leak has increased from one hectare to two hectares. The refinery has recovered about 220 000 litres of petrol so far.
Sapref told Business Report that it was calling in an independent health specialist to look at air quality tests taken from the second row of houses near the area of the leak. The report is expected at the end of the October.
Though abnormal levels of petrol fumes were measured in the area earlier this month, Sapref insisted that its air quality tests showed no health risk.
Sapref spokesman Margaret Rowe said residents should take medical confirmation that they have been affected by the petrol fumes to the company. Some people have been suffering from headaches, nausea and coughing. Rowe did not say how those affected would be compensated.
Residents are angry and feel Sapref is taking too long to protect their health. The director of environmental lobby group groundWork, Bobby Peek, told Business Report: “All the houses in the area should have been monitored from the start instead of doing it row by row, as high levels of hydrocarbons were detected in stormwater drains located away from the site a while ago.”
The government earlier this month instructed Sapref to sort out its problems, which have resulted in eight pollution incidents in the past year. The company has until December 30 to solve the pollution problem or face criminal proceedings. Sapref is to meet the provincial department of environmental affairs to discuss this order on Thursday.
Peek said the department of environmental affairs should have taken action when the leak occurred in July. The community and environmental lobby groups have been calling for the refinery to replace its ageing infrastructure.
