MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Is Afro Fishing (AF) still committed to establishing its fish meal plant in Mossel Bay, considering the economic downturn and the ravaging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Dëon van Zyl, CEO at AF (Pty) Ltd confirms its commitment, saying that from a World Food Security point of view, increased agriculture and aquaculture production are imperative to cope with population growth and food demand. Fish meal and fish oil remain the key ingredients in agri- and aqua-feeds, Van Zyl says. International fish meal and fish oil prices have also not reduced much during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Afro Fishing provides an essential service as we produce canned pilchards for the domestic market. We have been catching and processing pilchards during the lockdown period and have supplied canned pilchards to several relief aid programmes and the National School Nutrition Programme. We have also donated thousands of cans to child welfare organisations, the food havens, and shelters during the lockdown."
Van Zyl says business has obviously been hampered by the pandemic as some of the suppliers have been badly affected and are unable to supply raw materials. Putting new systems and practices into place in the factory to comply with Covid-19 regulations has also been a challenge.
In the RTO control room of the factory, Fabrica de Farinhas Oleos de Peixe, in Peniche, Dëon van Zyl and his technical team, Cape Environmental Assessment Practitioners (Pty) Ltd (Cape EAPrac) senior environmental consultant Melissa Mackay and chemical engineer Chris Albertyn met with the owners of the factory who have used the RTO for 10 years, the brothers Rui and Joao Dias.
Timeline
According to Van Zyl, they were aiming to commission the new fish meal plant at the start of the 2022 fishing season. "We have, however, lost some time with the delay of the department's environmental authorisation due to the lockdown. We still need to review the project viability concerning the environmental conditions that have been stipulated.
"In the meantime, we first need to undergo the appeal process. This appeal process is the final stage for Interested and Affected Parties to review the authorisation granted. We are also attending to the amendment of permits and provisional licences as required by this authorisation."
AF will be sticking to the initial plans of both a fish meal plant and the oil reduction facility on the harbour but will probably install one production line in year one, followed by the second in year two.
Low nuisance
Van Zyl stresses that AF has shown in its application that there is a proven and tested technology available to operate a ‘low nuisance’ fish meal and oil factory.
"There is no disputing that the regenerative thermal oxidiser (RTO) can achieve the required emission limits, and the authorities have recognised this and the proven science behind the RTO. The inclusion of the RTO is, therefore, a condition.
"AF is committed to the EIA process and will meet all these conditions should the project receive a ‘green’ light from our board.
"It is important also for the community to know that initially, AF will only receive a provisional Atmospheric Emission License. This will be valid for six months.
"Thereafter the company will receive another provisional licence for one year. Only after 18 months will a full Atmospheric Emission Licence be issued.
"The onus is, therefore, on AF to comply with department conditions or lose its licence. It would be very foolish for AF to make such a large investment and then ignore the conditions of this environmental authorisation," Van Zyl concluded.
The flow diagram of the RTO system at the fish meal plant close to Tarifa, Spain is explained to Dëon van Zyl and his technical team, Cape Environmental Assessment Practitioners (Pty) Ltd (Cape EAPrac) senior environmental consultant Melissa Mackay and chemical engineer Chris Albertyn.
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