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| Tuesday, 30 November 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Industry must adopt strategies to reduce air pollution - Minister Fowzie Speech delivered by Minister of Environment and Natural Resources A. H. M. Fowzie at the seminar on cleaner environment at JAIC Hilton organised by Harrisons Chemical Pvt. Ltd. It is a great pleasure for me today to have been invited to inaugurate this seminar on "Cleaner Environment" which is my responsibility and wish too. For the past many years successive Government's of Sri Lanka and also many in the world have adopted many systems to promote and compel a cleaner environment, for which a continuous effort has been made genuinely. We on our part have educated our society in responding to the need of the day and continue in this process using so many different ways of approach. Unfortunately I don't see much success in these processes. It may be due to non-direct benefit in following the guidelines. Also it may be due to leniency in implementing legal obligations. Let us look at the numerous industries that are burning fossil fuel which readily give out various forms of carbon, nitrogen and unburnt particulate emissions. All these things contribute to pollute the environment of people, animal and plants. So many methods are adopted to counteract these effects. But still the results that are necessary are not achieved. Are we to stop our manufacturing projects? Can we afford to stop or reduce the transport systems? How far have we gone in our efforts to make more greenery and forestry. What we see is that trees have been cut down. But the rate of replanting is not compensating enough. Many have taken up the challenges of re-greening but comparatively at a lower level; that is only a small fraction of the required level. Now we know and heard about new technologies on how to reduce the unburnt particulate emissions in larger industries using broilers, furnaces and engines. I have had the opportunity of going through many of the processes. The new methods suggest addition of additives, which are combustion catalysts that are actually iron carboxylates in Hydrocarbon solvents. They burnt to the maximum level, thus preventing the unburnt fuel coming out of chimneys and other exhaust outlets in the form of particulate materials seen as black smoke etc. These emissions actually harm the health conditions of human and animal life together with the plant life. The sulphur dioxide emission especially when caught up in the rain or drizzle could result in an acid rain. How are we to avoid situations of this nature. Surely we are happy that some institutions take up seriously these phenomena. It is very difficult to inculcate this social responsibility into the minds of our people unless tangible financial benefit are assured. As per the literature on these catalyst additives we see the possibility of reduction in particulate emission by 50% and the maximum usage of fuel by decreasing the sludge formulation in oil tanks. The sludge formation reduces the fuel availability and if the sludge is thrown out there is possibility of it seeping into wells or paddy fields and contaminate the natural water resources. Together with this advanced technology where the additive combines with fuel oil and the whole fuel is burnt to get optimum energy. This is a fuel saving, which is a tangible benefit. Even if there is a saving of 1% it is a very large amount of money as the industries spend a considerable amount on fuel bills, which in return a foreign exchange expenditure. I request all the industrialists and the transport sector to adopt any technology in reducing the hazards of foul air enabling us to have a cleaner environment. Anura Perera, Director of Harrisons Chemical Pvt. Ltd presided. |
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