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Dealing with pollution –
the case of Australia’s HAZELWOOD coal plant fires
Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai
4 February 2016
Australia’s Hazelwood power station owned by GDF Suez, part
owned by the French burnt for 45 days as a result of its
brown coal catching fire from bushfire embers two years ago.
7000 fire fighters fought the fires over the 45-day period.
Employees, residents in the area and the fire fighters were
exposed to toxic fumes, leading to obstructive lung diseases
and deaths. An enquiry into the fires in Hazelwood concluded
there have been spikes in deaths in the La Trobe Valley
since the fires.
Better summarised here at http://hazelwoodinquiry.vic.gov.au/
“In early February a fire ignited which, on or about 9
February 2014, took hold in the Hazelwood Coal Mine. The
fire was brought under control and the mine was handed back
to its owners on 25 March 2014. Many Morwell citizens and
other residents of the Latrobe Valley were adversely
affected by the fire and vulnerable residents were urged to
relocate until air quality improved. A large number of
people reported having respiratory and other health-related
problems as a result of the conditions”.
Today 4 February 2016, less than 5 days to the second
anniversary of the fires, Victorian Government agencies have
bared their teeth and the Victoria Government is calling for
more action against the owners of Hazelwood. Read
“Hazelwood coal mine operator facing workplace safety
charges for 2014 fire” at
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hazelwood-coal-mine-operator-to-face-workplace-safety-charges-for-2014-fire-20160203-gml0j9.html#ixzz3zBOJbqU4
And
“Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville hits out at EPA
over Hazelwood charges delay” at
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/victorian-environment-minister-lisa-neville-hits-out-at-epa-over-hazelwood-charges-delay-20160204-gmli2v.html
As you read, please compare with the relative resources and
legislative and enforcement preparedness of Ghana
The two reports above indicate the legislative and
regulatory framework within which a company that has caused
environmental harm can be brought to book in Australia.
Significantly they illustrate the political will to hold
such companies accountable for environmental harm. And the
subtext of knowledgeable communities, sensitive to and
protective of their environmental rights, who readily and
often punish political parties who take community
environmental concerns for granted.
Below are the enforcers and what they have done or are in
the process of doing two years after the fires
Worksafe Victoria, empowered to prescribe and police a safe
working environment and to prosecute employer violations
whether or not there are consequences to the violations, has
filed a court case citing 10 violations of workplace rules.
At $1.36 million per violation, GDF Suez may be up to $13.6
million in fines
Country Fire Authority (CFA), responsible for safety of its
fire-fighters, have filed a case against GDF Suez for $18
million costs for fighting the fires, having been cleared by
Worksafe Victoria which found “they had taken reasonable
measures to protect fire-fighters safety.”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible for
monitoring and prosecuting environmental pollution, is
contemplating taking action against GDF Suez for
environmental pollution, with fines against the breach as
well as each day of the breach
The politicians: In the second article cited above, the
relevant minister is on the heels of the EPA for delays in
bringing action against GDF Suez and has asked for weekly
reports on progress towards prosecuting GDF Suez. Really,
the minister has no power in enforcing environmental
pollution, the EPA has! - powers the EPA exercises as an
independent body. Still the minister’s intervention is
persuasive in so far as she is seen as representing the will
of the people and frankly with the people behind her.
Political imperatives would see her addressing the EPA’s
concern that it can only work within the "current
legislative framework to ensure the best possible case is
brought before the courts" as well as suggestions by CEO
Environment Victoria about “weaknesses in the authority's
act and powers to force Hazelwood to present evidence” and
need for "enhanced powers and greater penalties” and “laying
charges within 12 months of any serious pollution incident".
The people: Without them, regulations and statutes on
environmental protection would remain just that, languishing
in libraries and subject to academic discourse only. They
have seen the back of the previous Government under whose
watch the Hazelwood fires occurred. They have caused the
timetable of the closure of Hazelwood forward. And they
remain relentless!
Proponents of a coal powered station in Ghana are so
arrogant that they are not open to minimum considerations of
downsides or precautions that could be mitigated with
careful measures and believe the need for more energy
outweigh all other considerations. I invite them to consider
Ghana’s capabilities should a Hazelwood be visited on a coal
plant in Ghana.
Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai
February 04, 2016 |
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World Bank funds climate
innovation centre at Ashesi university
Pulse, Feb 06, Ghanadot - The World Bank Group
has announced the upcoming launch of a new Climate
Innovation Center (CIC) in Accra to support Ghana’s
green growth strategy. ...More
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Nigeria president warns of
Libya 'time bomb'
Times, Feb 03, Ghanadot - Nigerian President
Muhammadu Buhari urged the international community on
Wednesday to help end the turmoil in Libya, warning that
it was creating a "strategic time bomb" for Africa and
Europe....In a speech to the European Parliament, Buhari
said the situation in lawless southern Libya was
particularly alarming as it was creating a flow of arms
affecting Nigeria and other countries. ......More |
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Finding your way in a country
without street addresses
BBC, Feb 05, Ghanadot - Since properties often
don't have a house number or name and street signs are
rarely visible, local landmarks like bars, banks or even
trees are used instead to help people find their way.
But a new, home-grown mobile app wants to change how
people get around, putting an end to the confusion...The
SnooCode app generates a unique code for every property
in Ghana......More
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Dealing with pollution
– the case of Australia’s HAZELWOOD coal plant fires
Commentary, Feb 05,
Ghanadot -
The two reports above
indicate the legislative and regulatory framework within
which a company that has caused environmental harm can
be brought to book in Australia. Significantly they
illustrate the political will to hold such companies
accountable for environmental harm. ....More
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