Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The industrial company sealed earlier this month nonconformity and adherence to environmental laws of Oyo State, Shri-Balaji Industries Limited, has been reopened.
The facility was unsealed on Wednesday on the directive of the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resource, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola.
The company, which engages in the recycling of waste tyres to produce Pyrolysis oil and carbon black and steel wire as by-products, was closed by the state government to protect the lives of residents of the area.
A statement made available to Business Post disclosed that for it to be reopened, Shri-Balaji paid a fine of N1.5 million to the state government, N250,000 to break the seal, and N500,000 was collected from the consultant for negligence of duty to guide the facility into compliance.
The facility has been given a timeline in stages to work on completing the Action Plans which should be improved upon going forward.
Mr Mogbonjubola, in the statement, said his ministry held a tripartite meeting with the facility owner, and the leadership of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) over the Action Plans submitted by the firm.
“The Action Plans, which the trio of the Ministry, Shri-Balaji Industry Limited and MAN unanimously accepted and agreed upon, includes the immediate provisions of medical retainership for all workers and regular checkup, provision of pollution abatement systems and scrubbers including raising the heights of exhaust systems and reconfiguration of production systems for pollution reduction and cleaner production process, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment for all workers, adequate storage of the carbon black within a bund wall with a shelter to prevent the indiscriminate escape of leachate and encourage cleanliness, rehabilitation of oil water separators, improved aesthetic and sanitation, submission of Environmental audit reports and monthly environmental reports,” the Commissioner stated.
He charged facility owners to ensure compliance with state and national environmental laws.
In his remarks, the General Manager of Shri-Balaji, Mr Razaq, thanked the state government for showing optimal understanding and good gestures towards the company.
