PRESS STATEMENT BY
UPL SOUTH AFRICA
8 February 2021
Cornubia warehouse arson attack: update on
clean up and monitoring efforts
The Portfolio Committee on Environment,
Forestry and Fisheries, (National Assembly) is meeting today, the 8th
of February to discuss, amongst other issues, a briefing update on the July
2021 arson attack on UPL’s leased Cornubia warehouse, which led to a chemical
spill.
The specialist team appointed by UPL have
been working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(DFFE) and have provided them with extensive information on the progress of the
clean-up, remediation, rehabilitation and monitoring efforts to date.
PRESS STATEMENT BY
UPL SOUTH AFRICA
8 February 2021
Cornubia warehouse arson attack: update on
clean up and monitoring efforts
The Portfolio Committee on Environment,
Forestry and Fisheries, (National Assembly) is meeting today, the 8th
of February to discuss, amongst other issues, a briefing update on the July
2021 arson attack on UPL’s leased Cornubia warehouse, which led to a chemical
spill.
The specialist team appointed by UPL have
been working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(DFFE) and have provided them with extensive information on the progress of the
clean-up, remediation, rehabilitation and monitoring efforts to date.
UPL is pleased that the current data
presented to the Department shows that its extensive clean up and rehabilitation operations are showing success
in many areas.
New information based on the results of
monitoring efforts by the independent experts shows improvements in terms of
possible issues that would be of concern at present versus when the incident
happened. These positive outcomes are notable for the beaches and sea water,
the estuary, Ohlanga River, the warehouse platform and the pollution control
dam. Another positive aspect to note is the rapid fall in the concentration of
detected pesticides.
Furthermore, independent experts have been
monitoring for possible acute and chronic public health risks associated with
the spill. Analysis from November 2021, showed there were no reports of acute
or chronic public health issues from surrounding communities. Experts are also
awaiting the outcomes of a broader health risk assessment and monitoring in
terms of human health will continue.
These monitoring efforts and associated
results have also helped UPL pinpoint areas that need continued remediation
work as well as to determine the most appropriate courses of action in this
regard.
To date, UPL has spent over R300 million
to mitigate the impact of the chemical spill that resulted from the warehouse
being set alight during the widespread looting of mid-July last year. These
efforts have included the appointment of numerous leading independent experts
and specialists as well as two spill response teams. During the first two and a
half months following the attack there were approximately 130 people working at
the spill site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The teams have removed significant volumes
of contaminated sediment and water in the Ohlanga tributary and its banks.
The operation has also included reworking the tributary channel in some areas
and the formation of sinuous channel sections to accelerate the natural
breakdown of any remaining residual products. Further soil samples were taken
on the 2nd of February with the aim of assessing the best way
forward in terms of revegetation. Trials are being established to assess the
best plants to use in the initial vegetation rehabilitation and the independent
experts are aiming to set up a nursery on site, which will allow for the
propagation of plants indigenous to the area.
Encouragingly, sampling from nearby sugar
cane fields has shown that all detected pesticide levels were below the
applicable Maximum Residue Levels – mindful that of the detected pesticides,
some are already used as part of the normal agricultural process. Further
sampling will be undertaken before the 2022 crop harvesting begins.
The public can be assured that these
broader assessment processes, undertaken by UPL’s team of independent experts,
which includes the monitoring of any potential human health impacts, will
remain ongoing as will water and sediment sampling and monitoring continue over
the coming months.
Critically, the results of the ongoing
monitoring is proving to be very useful in driving remediation and rehabilitation actions, to which UPL is
committed over the longer-term.
UPL’s team of experts will also continue
engaging with the relevant government authorities and provide regular reports
on the work being done. All the above information, and more, was provided to
the DFFE ahead of the Portfolio Committee’s meeting.
ENDS///
Please attribute quotes to Japhet Ncube,
spokesperson for UPL South Africa
Please note that UPL South Africa (Pty)
ltd is the correct name of the company. It is not United Phosphorus Ltd.
Media Enquiries:
Thabi Ndhlovu
061 993 6672
