NO DANGER FROM MOZAL BYPASS - MINISTER

There is no significant danger to either the environment or to human health from the “bypass” planned by the Mozal aluminium smelter, Mozambican Environment Minister Alcinda Abreu told reporters on Tuesday.Mozal on Monday began to rebuild its two Fume Treatment Centres (FTCs), which form part of the carbon plant where the anodes for the electrolytic furnaces are baked. The steel at the base of the FTCs has become dangerously corroded, and Mozal warns that, unless the FTCs are replaced there is a danger that the buildings will collapse.The rebuild is scheduled to take 137 days, and during part of this period the “baghouse” which filters gas, dust and tars from the carbon plant must be bypassed – the emissions will not go through the filters, but will be expelled directly into the atmosphere via a tall chimney.The bypass has been the subject of wild disinformation in parts of the Mozambican press with claims that Mozal will “execute” the population of the city of Matola.Abreu, however, pointed out that her Ministry only issued the licence that allows Mozal to rebuild the FTCs after studies had shown that the bypass poses no significant environmental threat.The Ministry had commissioned studies from scientists at Maputo’s Eduardo Mondlane University, and Mozal itself had contracted independent environmental consultants. All of their studies indicated that the bypass will not be a dangerous operation.Mozal admits that while the FTC filters are not operating, there will be an increase in emissions – but these will still be within the legal limits, and will still meet the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).Speaking after a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), Abreu asked the reporters “Do you really think we would endanger the health of our people?”She pointed out that Mozal workers live in Matola, and so do several members of the government and their families. “Do you think we are suicidal?”, she asked.The bypass was to have begun on Monday, but Mozal postponed it to allow further consultation with interested parties. However, there is a limit to how far rebuilding the FTCs can progress without the bypass.