Million-$ toxic question hangs over Ramatex

IN the face of the possible closure of the Ramatex Textile Factory, environmental watchdog Earthlife is concerned that the multi-billion-dollar outfit could leave Namibia without compensating for environmental damage caused by its Windhoek operations.

In a letter to the Ministries of Trade, Environment, Agriculture and the City of Windhoek, Earthlife has demanded answers on whether the Malaysian-run company will be held responsible for the contamination of groundwater and the dumping of toxic sludge in the Otjomuise area of Windhoek. “It is a fact that the area around Ramatex is already unacceptably contaminated with dangerous chemicals and that their effluent cannot be taken into the Gammams water purification works,” Earthlife says.Earthlife wants to know whether Ramatex is prepared to pay financial compensation for the rehabilitation process or whether Government is prepared to shoulder the responsibility.On Monday, the Ramatex Group sent a letter to Prime Minister Nahas Angula, turning down Government’s offer of a turnaround strategy for the allegedly loss-making outfit.It gave Government until Tuesday to take up its offer to buy out the factory.However, despite Ramatex conveying to Government in no uncertain terms in the letter that it would prefer a buyout – as opposed to what it said was too much of a drawn-out procedure proposed by Government to get the factory to yield the intended production and financial levels – the company, through the Office of the Prime Minister, insisted on Wednesday that the factory’s future was still being negotiated.Prime Minister Nahas Angula said it was Government’s view too that the issue was still up for negotiation.In its letter to Government, Earthlife alleges that the Ministry of Trade and Industry had put a stop to several intended interventions by the Windhoek Municipality for corrective action.Last year the Windhoek City Council agreed to advance N$1,9 million from its coffers to start the long-overdue process of dealing with waste water from the factory, which has been contaminating the City’s water sources.Investigations by the City revealed that effluent is being discharged directly into the sewer leading to the Gammams Wastewater Care Works, affecting the operation of the treatment plant and raising the salt content of the reclaimed drinking water.Government agreed to pay N$13 million for corrective water-treatment measures.Since Ramatex came to Namibia, Earthlife has pressed for its environmental impact assessment to be made public – it never has been – and said this week that this was now crucial if the extent of environmental damage was to be assessed.In the past, Earthlife’s demands have been met with a backlash from Government, which accused the organisation of attempting to subvert developmental efforts.Earthlife says none of the promises Ramatex made in a letter to the organisation in 2002, and published in several newspapers, that it would protect the environment from its harsh manufacturing processes had been kept.”There was no effective pressure on Ramatex from specifically your Ministry [Trade] as well as the City of Windhoek.Instead Ramatex continuously enjoyed enormous financial benefits such as subsidised water and electricity tariffs, and the provision of costly infrastructure at the ratepayers’ expense,” says the letter to Trade Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi.Earthlife describes the Ramatex situation as “an embarrassment to the City and political leaders”.”The public at large wants to know who specifically takes the responsibility for the dogmatic handling of the issues at hand and allowed Ramatex to ignore their responsibilities.If acceptable accountability cannot be provided, resignations should follow now,” says Earthlife.Earthlife feels the public has been misled on the environmental impact of Ramatex and is demanding that the record be set straight by way of an environmental audit.”It is a fact that the area around Ramatex is already unacceptably contaminated with dangerous chemicals and that their effluent cannot be taken into the Gammams water purification works,” Earthlife says.Earthlife wants to know whether Ramatex is prepared to pay financial compensation for the rehabilitation process or whether Government is prepared to shoulder the responsibility.On Monday, the Ramatex Group sent a letter to Prime Minister Nahas Angula, turning down Government’s offer of a turnaround strategy for the allegedly loss-making outfit.It gave Government until Tuesday to take up its offer to buy out the factory.However, despite Ramatex conveying to Government in no uncertain terms in the letter that it would prefer a buyout – as opposed to what it said was too much of a drawn-out procedure proposed by Government to get the factory to yield the intended production and financial levels – the company, through the Office of the Prime Minister, insisted on Wednesday that the factory’s future was still being negotiated. Prime Minister Nahas Angula said it was Government’s view too that the issue was still up for negotiation.In its letter to Government, Earthlife alleges that the Ministry of Trade and Industry had put a stop to several intended interventions by the Windhoek Municipality for corrective action.Last year the Windhoek City Council agreed to advance N$1,9 million from its coffers to start the long-overdue process of dealing with waste water from the factory, which has been contaminating the City’s water sources.Investigations by the City revealed that effluent is being discharged directly into the sewer leading to the Gammams Wastewater Care Works, affecting the operation of the treatment plant and raising the salt content of the reclaimed drinking water.Government agreed to pay N$13 million for corrective water-treatment measures.Since Ramatex came to Namibia, Earthlife has pressed for its environmental impact assessment to be made public – it never has been – and said this week that this was now crucial if the extent of environmental damage was to be assessed.In the past, Earthlife’s demands have been met with a backlash from Government, which accused the organisation of attempting to subvert developmental efforts.Earthlife says none of the promises Ramatex made in a letter to the organisation in 2002, and published in several newspapers, that it would protect the environment from its harsh manufacturing processes had been kept.”There was no effective pressure on Ramatex from specifically your Ministry [Trade] as well as the City of Windhoek.Instead Ramatex continuously enjoyed enormous financial benefits such as subsidised water and electricity tariffs, and the provision of costly infrastructure at the ratepayers’ expense,” says the letter to Trade Permanent Secretary Andrew Ndishishi.Earthlife describes the Ramatex situation as “an embarrassment to the City and political leaders”.”The public at large wants to know who specifically takes the responsibility for the dogmatic handling of the issues at hand and allowed Ramatex to ignore their responsibilities.If acceptable accountability cannot be provided, resignations should follow now,” says Earthlife.Earthlife feels the public has been misled on the environmental impact of Ramatex and is demanding that the record be set straight by way of an environmental audit.