Q&A’s, 2008

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Question 1578

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises:

Whether she has been informed of (a) environmental and safety hazards associated with the tank farm in the P E Harbour and (b) the oil industry’s readiness to re-locate at their own cost to the Coega Industrial Development Zone; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
whether Transnet intends taking any action to address these matters; if not, why not; if so, (a) what action and (b) what are the further relevant details? NW2326E

Reply

(1) (a) The Port of Port Elizabeth is ISO 14001 certified and complies with all environmental requirements. Environmental and safety are risk factors monitored by the Board of Transnet and as the Shareholder, we require the Board to have a risk mitigation plan for all their major risks. 
The fuel industry operates the tank farm and is such accountable for ensuring that it exercises its responsibilities in accordance with applicable legislation prescribing controls regarding environmental and safety hazards associated with the products handled at the tank farm. (b) The Coega Development Corporation is responsible for the Coega Industrial Development Zone and as such I would recommend that this question be posed to the Minister of Trade & Industry.

(2) As indicated above, the Port of Port Elizabeth is ISO 14001 certified and complies with all environmental requirements. Transnet further ensures that the operator of the fuel tank farm complies with applicable legislation in the management of environmental and safety hazards associated with the operation of the fuel tank farm.