PE ore depot maintenance ‘up to scratch’

TRANSNET is engaging complainants about manganese dust pollution but has rejected suggestions there are problems around maintenance of the machinery at the bulk ore terminal.

Port Elizabeth Deep Sea Angling Club chairman Richard Donaldson said following on The Herald’s January 10 report of the anger and frustration of tenants and residents about the matter, Transnet had engaged all port stakeholders.

“All was discussed and Transnet reassured us that the matter would be prioritised.”

Donaldson said tenants, including several with expertise in the field, were taken on a tour of the bulk ore berth on February 7, and they had been disturbed by some of what they had seen.

“I have an engineering background and another member of our group, John Allan, used to work in maintenance in the ore plant many years ago.

“We could immediately identify problems just from an observation point of view.

“Some loaders and conveyors were in poor repair, some dust shielding curtains were missing or not properly installed on the conveyors, some wind shield plates were not installed on them and some dust suppression sprayers on the reclaimers were inadequate, or not even operating.

Donaldson said a positive from the tour, however, was that Transnet officials had been willing to listen to observations and suggestions.

It was not clear how this exchange of information would be taken forward, but monthly meetings had been scheduled with Transnet to gauge progress and improvements being made.

In response, acting terminal manager Andile Bono said: “Transnet has a robust maintenance programme in place – which includes the maintenance of the dust suppression system and a capital programme of about R140-million – which will effectively address the issues at hand.”

Besides the main bulk ore berth, manganese is also trucked in open skips onto the container terminal on the northern side of the port. Hundreds of skips are in rows to be loaded. At each hatch, there is a dust-suppression sprayer but, according to a Transnet source, the dust still billows out at this point in certain conditions. The sprayers are ineffective in the wind.”

Responding, Bono said the ore dust suppression system was effective, evidenced by the fact that cargo owners had not raised any queries.