When does Ramatex stop polluting our precious resources?
When in November 2001 Earthlife Namibia asked for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be done before Ramatex start any textile production, Earthlife Namibia members were deemed by highest government officials as "? being persistently and deceitfully engaged in activities which are subversive to the government?s development efforts." At a later stage it was said by a Windhoek Strategic Executive: "It is ridiculous of those quasi-political environmental lobbies to come and teach us the fundamentals of environmental management." At the same occasion he said that ".there is no possibility under the sun that any pollutants would find their way into the plant" (meant was the New Goreangab Reclamation Plant).
In January 2002, before Ramatex started it?s production of textile, the company published in all daily news papers a full page on "Ramatex Position on Environmental Issues", as an answer to Earthlife Namibia?s request of an EIA. Ramatex stated in this document "?we are spending more than N$25 million on the recycling of water and the wastewater treatment system. All wastewater will be recycled for utilization again." The described method of wastewater treatment to be used by Ramatex created the impression of a fairly clean production process.
Further in this document Ramatex mentioned commitment to the City of Windhoek and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to implement the Environmental Management System ISO 14001, which requires an environmental friendly production process. Ramatex further stated that "...the Management strongly believes and has proven that the Namibia investment will not have any adverse effect on the environment?".
On the matter of water consumption Ramatex said that 1 440 cubic metre of water per day will be used. It would be interesting to know how this compares with today?s water consumption by Ramatex.
Now it seems that Earthlife Namibia?s greatest fears have become reality. According to recent articles in various Namibian papers, new evidence indicate that Windhoek?s water sources are being polluted by waste from the Ramatex factory. This alarming reports triggered off a visit to the site by City Council members as well as officials from different line Ministries, indicating that Ramatex did not comply with regulations agreed upon between the City of Windhoek and Ramatex. Wastewater containing high contents of salt is freely pumped onto the ground resulting in "scandalous pollution". This seemed to have been an eye opener. At the Council Meeting on 29 September the Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer announced, that the Conditional Permission to operate the ?wet process" had been withdrawn from Ramatex, but as can be ascertained, the wet production plant is at the moment still operating.
The production of textile is one of the most polluting processes in the world. The City of Windhoek prescribed particular conditions for the construction of all textile effluent retaining structures in order to eliminate any possibility of pollution. Despite the fact that Ramatex did not comply with most of the conditions, the Municipality gave a provisional approval to start the wet process in April 2003, in the good faith that Ramatex would meet the prescribed conditions. This apparently did not happen till today.
Ramatex produces wastewater containing 1.5 to 1.9 tones of salt daily. Windhoek has no facility to deal with such large amount. Ramatex installed a network of sprinklers that irrigates the water on to the surrounding land. And streams of wastewater from Ramatex reach the Goreangab Dam.
Underground water of the monitored boreholes show increased levels of salt content indicating contamination of the underground water system. We need to know what kind of salt components are involved. Textile dyes and other chemicals used in the processing of textile are known to contain heavy metals and other dangerous substances which can be highly toxic to the environment and thus to human beings.
During 2003 it was said that an EIA had been done by Ramatex but was too sensitive for public distribution, because it could harm Ramatex? business. According to Namibian policy, the production of an EIA should be a public procedure and the resulting document should be accessible to the interested public. The fact that an EIA has never been available (has it ever been done?) despite repeated requests from various organizations including Earthlife Namibia, could lead to the conclusion that Ramatex has to hide things.
Ramatex so far is the biggest investor in Namibia and creates many jobs. Government and the Municipality of Windhoek seem to believe that this gives Ramatex the right to ignore all Namibian rules and regulations and ruin our environment.
It is however interesting to learn that the newly appointed CEO of the City of Windhoek publicly acknowledged during a monthly council meeting on Wednesday, 29 September 2004, that the pollution of the environment through Ramatex? activities is of great concern and has been noted with a sense of urgency by the municipality. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the Windhoek Municipality makes a public statement acknowledging that this matter affords immediate and professional action. After almost three years of unlimited environmental and social damage through Ramatex? operation, it is high time that someone responsible reacts and puts an end to this unacceptable activities.
Earthlife Namibia puts forward the following questions:
1. How can it be that so obvious signs of environmental and social destruction done by Ramatex be ignored for almost three years?
2. What are the mysterious reasons that all responsible bodies react in a Ramatex protective manner?
3. Namibia has got good environmental policies in place. Why is Ramatex allowed to set its own rules and regulations, contradicting all Namibian policies? How can it happen that Ramatex acts in our country as it fits their dirty business?
4. Is the well-being of Windhoek citizens of no concern to the Namibian authorities?
5. When do we see the long overdue Environmental Impact Assessment?
Earthlife Namibia challenges the City of Windhoek and the line Ministries to take their responsibility towards Namibian citizens seriously and to immediately stop Ramatex? wet processing, before it is too late! Pollution of aquifers can hardly be reversed and action needs to be taken immediately to stop Ramatex from polluting Windhoek?s water resources possibly for generations to come.
Bertchen Kohrs
Earthlife Namibia
In January 2002, before Ramatex started it?s production of textile, the company published in all daily news papers a full page on "Ramatex Position on Environmental Issues", as an answer to Earthlife Namibia?s request of an EIA. Ramatex stated in this document "?we are spending more than N$25 million on the recycling of water and the wastewater treatment system. All wastewater will be recycled for utilization again." The described method of wastewater treatment to be used by Ramatex created the impression of a fairly clean production process.
Further in this document Ramatex mentioned commitment to the City of Windhoek and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to implement the Environmental Management System ISO 14001, which requires an environmental friendly production process. Ramatex further stated that "...the Management strongly believes and has proven that the Namibia investment will not have any adverse effect on the environment?".
On the matter of water consumption Ramatex said that 1 440 cubic metre of water per day will be used. It would be interesting to know how this compares with today?s water consumption by Ramatex.
Now it seems that Earthlife Namibia?s greatest fears have become reality. According to recent articles in various Namibian papers, new evidence indicate that Windhoek?s water sources are being polluted by waste from the Ramatex factory. This alarming reports triggered off a visit to the site by City Council members as well as officials from different line Ministries, indicating that Ramatex did not comply with regulations agreed upon between the City of Windhoek and Ramatex. Wastewater containing high contents of salt is freely pumped onto the ground resulting in "scandalous pollution". This seemed to have been an eye opener. At the Council Meeting on 29 September the Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer announced, that the Conditional Permission to operate the ?wet process" had been withdrawn from Ramatex, but as can be ascertained, the wet production plant is at the moment still operating.
The production of textile is one of the most polluting processes in the world. The City of Windhoek prescribed particular conditions for the construction of all textile effluent retaining structures in order to eliminate any possibility of pollution. Despite the fact that Ramatex did not comply with most of the conditions, the Municipality gave a provisional approval to start the wet process in April 2003, in the good faith that Ramatex would meet the prescribed conditions. This apparently did not happen till today.
Ramatex produces wastewater containing 1.5 to 1.9 tones of salt daily. Windhoek has no facility to deal with such large amount. Ramatex installed a network of sprinklers that irrigates the water on to the surrounding land. And streams of wastewater from Ramatex reach the Goreangab Dam.
Underground water of the monitored boreholes show increased levels of salt content indicating contamination of the underground water system. We need to know what kind of salt components are involved. Textile dyes and other chemicals used in the processing of textile are known to contain heavy metals and other dangerous substances which can be highly toxic to the environment and thus to human beings.
During 2003 it was said that an EIA had been done by Ramatex but was too sensitive for public distribution, because it could harm Ramatex? business. According to Namibian policy, the production of an EIA should be a public procedure and the resulting document should be accessible to the interested public. The fact that an EIA has never been available (has it ever been done?) despite repeated requests from various organizations including Earthlife Namibia, could lead to the conclusion that Ramatex has to hide things.
Ramatex so far is the biggest investor in Namibia and creates many jobs. Government and the Municipality of Windhoek seem to believe that this gives Ramatex the right to ignore all Namibian rules and regulations and ruin our environment.
It is however interesting to learn that the newly appointed CEO of the City of Windhoek publicly acknowledged during a monthly council meeting on Wednesday, 29 September 2004, that the pollution of the environment through Ramatex? activities is of great concern and has been noted with a sense of urgency by the municipality. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the Windhoek Municipality makes a public statement acknowledging that this matter affords immediate and professional action. After almost three years of unlimited environmental and social damage through Ramatex? operation, it is high time that someone responsible reacts and puts an end to this unacceptable activities.
Earthlife Namibia puts forward the following questions:
1. How can it be that so obvious signs of environmental and social destruction done by Ramatex be ignored for almost three years?
2. What are the mysterious reasons that all responsible bodies react in a Ramatex protective manner?
3. Namibia has got good environmental policies in place. Why is Ramatex allowed to set its own rules and regulations, contradicting all Namibian policies? How can it happen that Ramatex acts in our country as it fits their dirty business?
4. Is the well-being of Windhoek citizens of no concern to the Namibian authorities?
5. When do we see the long overdue Environmental Impact Assessment?
Earthlife Namibia challenges the City of Windhoek and the line Ministries to take their responsibility towards Namibian citizens seriously and to immediately stop Ramatex? wet processing, before it is too late! Pollution of aquifers can hardly be reversed and action needs to be taken immediately to stop Ramatex from polluting Windhoek?s water resources possibly for generations to come.
Bertchen Kohrs
Earthlife Namibia
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