Discussions are ongoing to define a solution that is both technically practical and environmentally sound, SteelRwa Industries Ltd has said after environment officials suspended its factory over air pollutions. The company spoke out its Rwamagana-based factory was temporary suspended by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) due to emission concerns. ALSO READ: Leather factory suspended for polluting Akagera River According to REMA, an inspection conducted on Friday, October 17, found that the factory was emitting excessive fumes and smoke, which spread to surrounding areas, creating a smog. It's the second time the factory was suspended over pollution since 2019. On several occasions, SteelRwa factory has been warned about air pollution violations and fined for failing to comply with environmental regulations, the authority said on Sunday. Despite this, since 2021, there has been no improvement in reducing emissions or safeguarding the health of the nearby community. The inspection also found that there were “no adequate emission control measures in place, and there is a lack of a secondary extraction system to control fugitive smoke escaping the factory’s fume extraction system.” ALSO READ: Industries face closure for polluting wetlands, water bodies The same violations at the factory, REMA noted, were also observed in September. The environmental watchdog has ordered the factory to suspend all activities related to scrap metal processing, recycling and manufacturing of steel bars until a comprehensive system that prevents air pollution is operational. The factory was also obliged to pay an administrative fine of Rwf5 million within 7 days of receiving the suspension letter. Speaking to The New Times on Monday, SteelRwa management said they would cooperate with the regulator to address the issues. We thank them for their regular guidance. We respect the decision taken by REMA and are cooperating closely with them, the company said in a statement sent to The New Times. We attach the utmost importance to environmental protection and have temporarily paused our operations as advised, while discussions are ongoing to define a solution that is both technically practical and environmentally sound. ALSO READ: Industries save billions through clean production technologies The steel company noted that in heavy industries such as theirs, there can occasionally be temporary, unfortunate deviations, sometimes resulting from an unpredictable series of events. “But we remain fully committed to resolving them quickly and responsibly, the statement read in part. The duration of the suspension will depend on the progress of these discussions, but we are working actively to resolve the matter as soon as possible. They added that technical teams are continuing to carry out maintenance, technical reviews, and environmental protection improvements during this period of suspension. We are doing everything possible to ensure a safe, quick, and responsible restart once clearance is received. We are regularly engaging with certified companies to audit our environmental compliance, as well as with international technical experts to advice on the best available technologies.
