Govt to ensure Petronas plant won’t harm people

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THE State Government will ensure the construction of the fertilizer and petroleum gas plant in Sipitang owned by Petronas will not harm locals in the area.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin said the Department of Environment (DOE) will implement the control and monitoring methods to ensure manufacturers follow the rules.

“These include ensuring that urea and ammonia gas are discharged through chimneys, in accordance with the emission standards set by the DOE based on standards practised by developed countries.

“Manufacturers are also required to install air pollution control equipment, environmental monitoring system and station to monitor air quality at strategic locations around the plant,” he said in response to Sindumin assemblyman Ahmad Bujang yesterday.

He added that the DOE would also conduct continuous enforcement from the beginning of the project until its completion.

Ellron said the project, which is expected to start operations in 2014, will have a production capacity of 2,100 tonnes of ammonia a day and 3.500 tonnes of urea per day.

To date, he said Malaysia does not have the standard pollution index of ammonia gas, but assured that the construction of the plant would be in accordance with Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127) in compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“The EIA report will identify all environmental issues, including identifying the project’s impact on locals in the area, while setting up practical control methods to be implemented by the plant,” he said.