THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has cleared the air over public fears that households had to obtain a licence to use power generators.
This comes following the organisation serving a ZWL$100 000 fine to a company which had contravened Section 64 of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27) which stipulates that companies should obtain a license to operate heavy duty generators, the over 5KVA.
“The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) would like to correct a notion that it licences operation of any generator above 5kVA, which has caused unnecessary panic among members of the public especially those using generators at household level or for domestic purposes.
“As a matter of fact, Section 64 of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27) clearly stipulates that, “No owner or operator of a trade or any establishment shall emit a substance or energy which causes or is likely to cause air pollution without an emission licence”, thus clearly indicating that this is an operation atcommercial level or for industrial use,” said Environmental Education and Publicity Manager Amkela Sidange.
Added Sidange, “The appliance of operation is further buttressed under Statutory Instrument 72 of 2009(Environmental Management [Atmospheric Pollution Control] Regulations, 2009), where an appliance means any stationary fuel-burning appliance or apparatus which is capable of consuming more than 5 kilograms per hour of fuel or other combustible matter, whether such fuel or combustible matter is in a solid, liquid or gaseous state.
In this case, a generatorbecomes the appliance and if it is consuming more than 5kg per hour of fuel, and being used for commercial purposes or industrial use, then it must be licenced by the Agency.
On the other hand, the law clarifies that the appliance, and it this case generators, are defined on fuel consumption basis and NOT on power basis that the public has been made to understand.”
She appealed to the public to understand that the regulation is meant to protect more than it is to frustrate or harm them.
“On that note the Agency wants to implore members of the public to always look at the brighter side of this piece of legislative narrative which seeks to prevent air pollution and ensure members of the public enjoy access to clean environment (air) which is not harmful to health as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Act
(Chapter 20:27).
“Also prevention of air pollution dovetails towards the fight against climate change where as a country we want to achieve our Nationally determined Contributions(NDCs),of 40% per capita emissions reduction across all sectors of the economy below the projected business as usual scenario by 2030,” Sidange said.
She added, “On the other hand, may those that have been found on the wrong side of the law desist from causing public panic by disseminating incorrect information, and at the same time for the members of the public to engage the Agency through its various platforms including its website www.ema.co.zw when not in the clear about certain environmental law implications.
The Agency remains committedto fulfilling its constitutional mandate to provide for the sustainable management natural resources and protection of the environment; the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation; with stakeholder participation. The Agency works with the people, for the people and through the people; and Together protecting the Environment.”
