[Cane Burning-Kyoto Protocol][Cane Burning - Area of Land Burnt, Carbon dioxide Emission, etc][Industries (Local) - Gas Emission - Monitoring][Petrol (unleaded) - Introduction & Air Quality][Fuel - Sulphur - Reduction][Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée - Pollution]

Debate No. 04 of 01.03.05
Cane Burning - Kyoto Protocol

(No. B/155) Mr J.C. Armance (Third Member for GRNW & Port Louis West) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether he will state if the practice of burning sugar cane fields is in violation of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and, if so, will he consider imposing a ban thereon.

Mr Bhagwan: Sir, cane burning in Mauritius is not in violation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Keywords: Kyoto protocol, climate change

Debate No. 7 of 22.03.2005
Cane Burning - Area of Land Burnt, Carbon dioxide Emission, etc

(No. B/232) Mr J.C. Armance (Third Member for GRNW & Port Louis West) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, in regard to the burning of sugar cane, he will state if a study has been carried out to determine –

the area of land under sugar cane cultivation which is burnt each year;
the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per acre;
the effects on macro and micro organisms in the soil, and
the amount of money, if any, saved by the sugar industry by this practice.

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources (Mr N. Bodha): Mr Speaker Sir, with your permission, I will reply to this question.

I am informed by the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute that it has carried out a study in the west of Mauritius in the context of the national climate change. This study has given information on carbon dioxide emission per acre of cane burnt. I am advised that there have been no structured studies related to cane burning in Mauritius.

In regard to part (a) specifically, I am informed by the Mauritius Sugar Producers Association that 11,823 hectares were burnt by their members in 2004, prior to harvesting, whereas the FSC has informed that the figure for small planters for that same crop was 719 hectares for small planters.

Mr Speaker, Sir, over the years, the area burnt has been decreasing from 40% in the year 1995 to 22% in the year 2003 and around 18% in 2004. I am advised by the MSIRI that we should expect that cane burning will be significantly reduced in the years to come with the advent of green mechanical harvesting on a large scale in the sub humid and humid zones.

As regards part (b), according to the study carried out by the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute referred to above, the carbon dioxide emission is 4.9 tonnes per acre of sugar cane for a yield of about 35 tonnes per acre. This figure tallies with data we have received from Brazil.
/…
For part (c), I am informed by the MSIRI that no study has been carried out in Mauritius, but studies elsewhere indicate that there is no lasting adverse effect on the biological activities in soil.

Regarding part (d), Mr Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the MSPA that no analysis on the financial implications of burning has ever been undertaken. However, the practice of burning is to allow the harvest of clean canes and results in an overall significant increase in the productivity of cane cutters. Furthermore it helps sugar estates to abide to the Weighbridge Control Regulations, which provides that the percentage of extraneous matter should not exceed 12%.

As regards burning of sugar cane in small planters’ fields, I am informed that the FSC does not encourage such a practice, but some planters resort to such practice to avoid thrashing prior to harvest, while in other cases, it is a result of fire spreading from adjoining fields or criminal fires.

Mr Armance: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister if the Ministry of Environment has ever received complaints for the disorders and damages caused by the ashes blown by the wind and whether there has been an environmental assessment?

Mr Bodha: Mr Speaker, Sir, myself, as Minister of Tourism and my colleague, as Minister of Environment, have been working a lot on this. I think that, in the context of the coming reform, we will have the possibility to have an even more environmental friendly sugar industry in the years to come.

Mr Michel: May I know from the hon. Minister what measures he envisaged or has taken for those persons when there is cane burning on the road or in the villages? What measures his Ministry has taken?

Mr Bodha: When it is controlled, I think it is done with the help of all the authorities concerned. But, when we have an accident or when we have criminal fires, then it is a matter of urgency and we have recourse to all the parties concerned.

Mr Michel: I want the Minister to tell us what concrete measures have been taken. Do various Ministries take into account damages that could be done either to properties or persons?
/…
Mr Bodha: It is a bit like emergency cases when we have fire. We have recourse to all the parties and stakeholders concerned, to see to it that the assets of people, traffic and all these other problems are taken care of.

Mr Michel: As former Minister of Tourism, the Minister knows that, in some cases, there have been damages to hotels. This is why I am asking him this question.

Mr Bodha: Whenever there were damages to hotels, Mr Speaker, Sir, we have set up a crisis management unit to see to it that the hotels are refurbished in the best conditions, so that they can start business once again.

Keywords: carbon dioxide emission, burning of sugarcane, climate change, greenhouse gas

Debate No. 07 of 06.09.05
Industries (Local) - Gas Emission - Monitoring

(No. I B/203) Mrs S. Grenade (Second Member for GRNW & Port Louis West) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, with regard to gas emission by local industries, he will state –

if his Ministry has arranged for facilities and equipment for the monitoring of same, and
the measures proposed to be taken in case of major departures from existing norms.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a), the reply is yes.

As regards part (b), I am informed that, in case results of monitoring exercises indicate that standards are not being complied with, action is taken by my Ministry in accordance with the Environment Protection Act as follows –

the issue of a programme notice to the contraveners, specifying the matter constituting the contravention and requesting the organisation to submit by a specified date a written programme of measures proposed to be taken to remedy the contravention;

the issue of an enforcement notice in case the contravenor fails to respond to the programme notice. The enforcement notice specifies measures required to remedy the contravention and which are to be implemented within a specified period of time, and

the issue of a prohibition notice, in case the contravenor fails to act according to the enforcement notice. The prohibition notice specifies the remedial measures to be taken and the period within which these shall be implemented, as well as any conditions subject to which the activity may be resumed. The contravenor may also be prosecuted for the offence committed in case or failure to comply with the provisions of the enforcement notice.

Key words: gas emission, monitoring, air quality, air pollution, standards, enforcement, EPA, programme notice, enforcement notice, prohibition notice

Debate No. 09 of 13.09.2005
Petrol (unleaded) - Introduction & Air Quality

(No. I B/270) Mr S. Naidu (Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Environment & National Development Unit whether, having regard to the quality of air, he will state

when unleaded gasoline was introduced, and

whether there has been any test carried out to ascertain whether there has been an improvement in the quality of air and, if so, will he give the results thereof.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a), I am informed that unleaded petrol was introduced in Mauritius in September 2002.

As for part (b), monitoring of ambient air quality carried out by my Ministry through the air monitoring station of Cassis since September 2002 has indicated a reduction in the average level of lead in ambient air from 0.1 microgrammes per cubic metre prior to the introduction of unleaded petrol to traces, after its introduction.

Keywords: air quality, unleaded gasoline, fuel

Debate No. 09 of 13.09.2005
Fuel - Sulphur - Reduction

(No. I B/271) Mr S. Naidu (Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Environment & National Development Unit whether, having regard to the quality of fuel, he will state –

whether there has been a reduction in the percentage of sulphur in diesel fuel and, if so,

when was the last reduction effected, and

whether any further reduction is envisaged, and

(b) if a Technical Advisory Committee has been set up to look into the matter and, if so, state the outcome thereof.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that there has been a reduction in the percentage of sulphur content in diesel fuel from 0.50% by weight to 0.25% by weight since September 2001.

Any further reduction will be considered in the light of the findings and recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee on fuel quality.

Keywords: air quality, fuel, sulphur, pollution, diesel

Debate No. 16 of 22.11.05
Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée - Pollution

(No. I B/535) Mr J. C. Barbier (Second Member for GRNW and Port Louis West) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether he will state if he has received any letter from the inhabitants of Résidence Coquillage, La Tour Koenig, Pointe aux Sables, concerning compact emission of black fumes, from the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée, and resulting in carbon particles being scattered all over the region and, if so, will he state what remedial measures are envisaged.

Reply: The Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit had received complaints regarding heavy black smoke emanation from the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée on 08 June 2004 and 05 August 2005 from inhabitants of Résidence Coquillage, La Tour Koenig, Pointe aux Sables.

Site visits were subsequently effected by officers of the Ministry on 10 June 2004, 15 September 2004 and 08 August 2005. The investigation revealed that the problem of smoke was occasional and was due to mechanical failure in the boiler of Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée. Following prompt intervention by the officers of the Department of Environment, immediate remedial action was taken by the said company. It is to be noted that the stack of Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile Ltée is equipped with an alarm system which detects all abnormal emissions.

Constant monitoring is being effected by my Ministry and now the situation is under control. As at to-date, no further complaint has been received by my Ministry.

Keywords: air quality, black fumes, smoke, monitoring