PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH AFRICA
12 APRIL 2022
UPL is taking mitigation measures following overflow of
control dam as a result of unprecedented heavy rains
Following the
destruction of its warehouse in Cornubia, as a result of the riots in July
2021, UPL re-purposed an existing stormwater control dam below the facility
into a pollution control dam (PCD). UPL appointed independent specialists who
have been carefully managing the levels of polluted water in the PCD since
then, and despite heavy rains in December and January the PCD has never
overtopped and, pleasingly, the levels of contamination in the water have
reduced significantly. Testing had indicated that the recent levels of metals
and contaminants of concern in the PCD were sufficiently low to permit a
variety of discharge options, including slow release into the river
environment.
PRESS STATEMENT BY UPL SOUTH AFRICA
12 APRIL 2022
UPL is taking mitigation measures following overflow of
control dam as a result of unprecedented heavy rains
Following the destruction of its warehouse in Cornubia, as
a result of the riots in July 2021, UPL re-purposed an existing stormwater
control dam below the facility into a pollution control dam (PCD). UPL
appointed independent specialists who have been carefully managing the levels
of polluted water in the PCD since then, and despite heavy rains in December
and January the PCD has never overtopped and, pleasingly, the levels of
contamination in the water have reduced significantly. Testing had indicated
that the recent levels of metals and contaminants of concern in the PCD were sufficiently
low to permit a variety of discharge options, including slow release into the
river environment.
The PCD had furthermore been fully emptied by tankers in the last month, its
sediments removed to landfill and had been fully re-lined.
The heavy rains over the weekend and continuing into last
night have however created an unprecedented volume of stormwater in the PCD
catchment, and its levels have rapidly risen from empty to extremely high. In response to this threat, UPL had resumed
extraction to tankers and the specialist team implemented systems to reduce the
volume of rainwater entering the PCD. Despite these interventions, due to ongoing
heavy rainfall the PCD still overtopped (water flowed over the edge).
UPL’s specialists consider that the stormwater emanating
from areas of the catchment at present is in such volumes that residual
contaminants, already at low levels, will be extremely diluted. UPL’s
consultants have advised that at those concentrations, they will be of minimal
concern. Further, they will be diluted again when they mix with the tributary
and river floodwater, and ultimately discharge into the sea. Analytical sampling has been undertaken and
continues to be undertaken to verify these assessments.
UPL has made
significant progress in the cleanup and rehabilitation of the areas impacted by
the fire and has spent over R400 million to date. It is well advanced with its
overall rehabilitation plan and has begun revegetation trials onsite. The
independent specialists are currently investigating being able to release PCD
and other onsite water to the environment, given the current residual levels
and onsite cleanup efforts. Ultimately, the rains may in fact assist in
flushing the entire system. Ongoing testing and analysis by the specialists will
be able to ascertain those effects in due course.
UPL is committed to the completion of all the required
cleanup and rehabilitation. It will also continue to monitor the impact of the
heavy rains on the system.
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
