Richards Bay residents have been alerted to a formal application by Foskor (Pty) Ltd – Acid Division to vary its Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) to include an existing gas-fired boiler at its John Ross Parkway site.
What Foskor has applied for
The company’s notice, lodged under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (NEMAQA), says the variation would incorporate the gas-fired boiler as a Controlled Emitter under the AEL. The boiler has a design steam capacity of 37 tonnes per hour, which the notice equates to a net heat input of approximately 27 MW. Because the boiler’s net heat input is below 50 MW, Foskor’s filing states it is considered a small boiler and does not trigger a listed activity under Section 21 of NEMAQA.
The company adds that, on this basis, the unit is not subject to the Minimum Emission Standards that apply to listed activities. The proposed licence variation is therefore to make the boiler’s status as a controlled emitter explicit within Foskor’s AEL.
How the public can participate
Members of the public and other Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) are invited to register and submit written comments on the proposed AEL variation. The Atmospheric Impact Report relating to the gas boiler has been made available for review at the Richards Bay Public Library and on Foskor’s website for a period of 30 days from the notice publication date.
"Members of the public and Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) are invited to register and submit written comments on the proposed licence variation."
Anyone wishing to register or to make representations in writing can contact the Foskor site representative, Mrs Kirona Harrypersad, by telephone or email. The notice provides the following contact details:
- Tel: +27 35 902 3050
- Email: kironah@foskor.co.za
Key technical details
Foskor’s notice sets out the boiler’s basic specifications and the regulatory rationale for the variation. For clarity, the following table summarises the information disclosed in the public notice:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 John Ross Parkway, Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, 3900 |
| Boiler steam capacity | 37 tonnes per hour |
| Net heat input | Approximately 27 MW |
| Classification | Controlled Emitter (not a listed activity under Section 21) |
| Comment period | 30 days from notice publication |
Local context and what this means for Richards Bay
Foskor is one of several large industrial operators in the Richards Bay complex, which includes chemical, metallurgical and energy facilities. Changes to licences or the formal classification of plant items can matter to residents and local government because they affect monitoring obligations, reporting and how emissions are regulated.
Although Foskor’s notice emphasises that the boiler is below the 50 MW threshold that would make it a listed activity, including it as a Controlled Emitter within the licence means it will be subject to the conditions and reporting requirements that apply to controlled sources. That can give regulators and the public a clearer record of permitted sources on site.
Neighbouring communities and environmental groups typically use the public participation processes associated with licence variations to raise concerns about air quality, odours, health effects and cumulative industrial impacts. The 30-day comment window is therefore an important opportunity for local residents, ward councillors, labour representatives and civic organisations to review the Atmospheric Impact Report and lodge any queries or written objections.
Foskor’s public notice is available at the Richards Bay Public Library and on the company website. Queries or registrations should be directed to the site representative at the contact details supplied in the notice.
Officials at the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, which handles AEL matters locally, did not comment in the public notice. Residents seeking further clarification may also approach the municipality’s environmental office for guidance on how licence variations are processed under NEMAQA.
