Comments on: Aluminium smelter in the Eastern Cape http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/ ...inject some meaning Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Linus http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8094 Linus Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:35:16 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8094 The world is moving away from aluminium and going towards greater use of carbon composite materials in manufacturing. Unfortunately, in Trinidad & Tobago (1.3 million people on 1,864 sq. miles), our dotish government insists that a joint venture Alutrint smelting plant must be built. Over 4,000 residents will hve to be tested every 2 years for cancer. Wehre are we going? Linus The world is moving away from aluminium and going towards greater use of carbon composite materials in manufacturing.

Unfortunately, in Trinidad & Tobago (1.3 million people on 1,864 sq. miles), our dotish government insists that a joint venture Alutrint smelting plant must be built.

Over 4,000 residents will hve to be tested every 2 years for cancer.

Wehre are we going?

Linus

]]> By: James http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8053 James Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:17:34 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8053 Although the very heavy electricity consumption for the production of primary aluminium seems massive, you need to look at the big picture. Aluminium is one of, if not the most recycled material on earth. The recycling of aluminium uses only 5% of the energy that the production of primary aluminium uses. Aluminium can also be recycled indefinably without loosing its properties (strength etc). In contrast to this, the recycling of steel is much more energy intensive, and thus, in the complete life cycle of the metals, aluminium ends up being much closer to other metals in the creation of green house gas emissions that it seems at first glance. To add to this, the use of aluminium in cars, planes, trains etc also drastically reduces the weights of these vehicles which in turn reduce the amount of fuel and thus green house gasses produced by these vehicles. Also the recyclability of the material means that less rubbish (plastic etc) will end up in land fills if these products are made from aluminium and recycling is managed correctly. Regarding the fluoride emissions, most of the fluoride is trapped in a dry scrubber and fed back into the system to be reused. Modern smelters loose about 0.01% of their fluoride, which is not much at all, and is well within the legal limits. Cyanide and fluoride containing spent pot linings are usually sold to cement factories which blend the product into the cement. By doing this, the levels of toxins are diluted to track amount which are below toxic levels. By doing this the pot linings don't end up in a big toxic landfill. The CO2 emissions are defiantly a problem in South Africa due to the fact that Eskom uses coal for its power plants. In this regard, it is better to build smelters in areas where hydro power is available. Unfortunately this is obviously no always possible. Just remember that before you condemn the smelters, you should see how it will positively affect the economy of the area and the lives of people less fortunate than you. Make sure you have the latest information from the newest smelters before you harp on about the pollution levels. Using data from 30 year old smelters will mislead you. Lastly, take a look at how much aluminium YOU use daily, in your car, in your kitchen, packaging etc etc etc. This has to be made somewhere, so why not there? For you to expect it to be made somewhere else, and do all the bad things you think it does to other people in their back yard, and then still use the products is disgusting. Although the very heavy electricity consumption for the production of primary aluminium seems massive, you need to look at the big picture. Aluminium is one of, if not the most recycled material on earth. The recycling of aluminium uses only 5% of the energy that the production of primary aluminium uses. Aluminium can also be recycled indefinably without loosing its properties (strength etc). In contrast to this, the recycling of steel is much more energy intensive, and thus, in the complete life cycle of the metals, aluminium ends up being much closer to other metals in the creation of green house gas emissions that it seems at first glance. To add to this, the use of aluminium in cars, planes, trains etc also drastically reduces the weights of these vehicles which in turn reduce the amount of fuel and thus green house gasses produced by these vehicles. Also the recyclability of the material means that less rubbish (plastic etc) will end up in land fills if these products are made from aluminium and recycling is managed correctly.

Regarding the fluoride emissions, most of the fluoride is trapped in a dry scrubber and fed back into the system to be reused. Modern smelters loose about 0.01% of their fluoride, which is not much at all, and is well within the legal limits.

Cyanide and fluoride containing spent pot linings are usually sold to cement factories which blend the product into the cement. By doing this, the levels of toxins are diluted to track amount which are below toxic levels. By doing this the pot linings don’t end up in a big toxic landfill.

The CO2 emissions are defiantly a problem in South Africa due to the fact that Eskom uses coal for its power plants. In this regard, it is better to build smelters in areas where hydro power is available. Unfortunately this is obviously no always possible.

Just remember that before you condemn the smelters, you should see how it will positively affect the economy of the area and the lives of people less fortunate than you.

Make sure you have the latest information from the newest smelters before you harp on about the pollution levels. Using data from 30 year old smelters will mislead you.

Lastly, take a look at how much aluminium YOU use daily, in your car, in your kitchen, packaging etc etc etc. This has to be made somewhere, so why not there? For you to expect it to be made somewhere else, and do all the bad things you think it does to other people in their back yard, and then still use the products is disgusting.

]]> By: talar http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8002 talar Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:15:32 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-8002 i would like to know how much % of south africas electricity is going to the production of aluminium.... i would like to know how much % of south africas electricity is going to the production of aluminium….

]]> By: Maria http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7976 Maria Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:12:38 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7976 Hi everybody I am living in a most beautiful region on the edge of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reefin a town called Bowen,Queensland, Australia. I am the leader of a group which has been formed as a result of the push by our State Government to make Bowen a site for one of the worlds largest aluminium refinery and smelter here on the Whitsunday Islands and it is owned by China (Chalco) I have been reading your blogs and the situation here is very very similar-we are a small community and the benefits touted by our local Govt and up to all levels of Govt is jobs, jobs ,jobs!!It is madness. We have some local support but we need to get it out into the national and international arena as we are on the banks of one of the 7 wonders of the world-the Great Barrier Reef. This whole area is to become a huge heavy industry area with a whole array of filthy industry as China and foreign companies take their polluting industries off-shore to Queensland,Australia. Our Govt cannot get our coal out quick enough to China and our country is being dug up and destroyed. The Whitsundays and Bowen are pristine and our present industries are agricultural(the largest vegetable growing region of Australia), fishing, tourism, cattle grazing and coal. Please contact me as I would love to know that you have received this message as it is your Great Barrier Reef as well. Hi everybody
I am living in a most beautiful region on the edge of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reefin a town called Bowen,Queensland, Australia. I am the leader of a group which has been formed as a result of the push by our State Government to make Bowen a site for one of the worlds largest aluminium refinery and smelter here on the Whitsunday Islands and it is owned by China (Chalco)
I have been reading your blogs and the situation here is very very similar-we are a small community and the benefits touted by our local Govt and up to all levels of Govt is jobs, jobs ,jobs!!It is madness. We have some local support but we need to get it out into the national and international arena as we are on the banks of one of the 7 wonders of the world-the Great Barrier Reef.
This whole area is to become a huge heavy industry area with a whole array of filthy industry as China and foreign companies take their polluting industries off-shore to Queensland,Australia.
Our Govt cannot get our coal out quick enough to China and our country is being dug up and destroyed.
The Whitsundays and Bowen are pristine and our present industries are agricultural(the largest vegetable growing region of Australia), fishing, tourism, cattle grazing and coal.
Please contact me as I would love to know that you have received this message as it is your Great Barrier Reef as well.

]]> By: akhona tiki http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7974 akhona tiki Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:19:58 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7974 hi all. my name is Akhona a student at NMMU. I am currently doing research on the Environmental Issues and I am mainly focusing of the Coega Development. Many of us are blinded by the fact that this development is going to bring jobs to people in the surrounding areas. But when I look at the stats of how many people have tertiary education, it is shocking. Hence, the people of those surrounding areas will only be labores and will be the ones affected mostly. I think if this information about the enviromental issues of this development was out there before the "deal" was done, more people would be aware and could take action. Job well done to all those like Tanja, Andreas and others, who spoke out regardless what others think. We as the youth need people like those. I hi all. my name is Akhona a student at NMMU. I am currently doing research on the Environmental Issues and I am mainly focusing of the Coega Development. Many of us are blinded by the fact that this development is going to bring jobs to people in the surrounding areas. But when I look at the stats of how many people have tertiary education, it is shocking. Hence, the people of those surrounding areas will only be labores and will be the ones affected mostly.
I think if this information about the enviromental issues of this development was out there before the “deal” was done, more people would be aware and could take action.

Job well done to all those like Tanja, Andreas and others, who spoke out regardless what others think. We as the youth need people like those.

I

]]> By: kay-miiy http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7968 kay-miiy Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:29:05 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7968 people have to stop this people have to stop this

]]> By: Georgina-Lucinda http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7967 Georgina-Lucinda Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:27:48 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7967 We arnt bickering about this Leea, seriously there are people who actually care about the enviroment, these factories are getting out of control, the government is going to have to do something about this. I hope they take thes messages into consideration. We arnt bickering about this Leea, seriously there are people who actually care about the enviroment, these factories are getting out of control, the government is going to have to do something about this. I hope they take thes messages into consideration.

]]> By: Leea http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7966 Leea Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:23:57 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7966 Everyone calm down about this, seriously everyone wants to stop global warming but bickering about this isnt going to make it better. Cheers Everyone calm down about this, seriously everyone wants to stop global warming but bickering about this isnt going to make it better. Cheers

]]> By: Jamie http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7915 Jamie Wed, 28 May 2008 17:28:52 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7915 another interesting fact is that the production of aluminium MAY lead to Alzheimer's... but this has not been scientifically proven yet another interesting fact is that the production of aluminium MAY lead to Alzheimer’s… but this has not been scientifically proven yet

]]> By: Jamie http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7914 Jamie Wed, 28 May 2008 17:23:31 +0000 http://theantidote.wordpress.com/2007/01/16/aluminium-smelter-in-the-eastern-cape/#comment-7914 Im a high school student doing reasearch on Coega and the recovery of alumium from bauxite; i think the environmental issues are crazy and the electricity usage is out of this world- nearly 4% of South Africa's electricity.... thanks government, nice work! it just proves that people will take money over the environment ANY DAy. this is disheartening... Im a high school student doing reasearch on Coega and the recovery of alumium from bauxite; i think the environmental issues are crazy and the electricity usage is out of this world- nearly 4% of South Africa’s electricity…. thanks government, nice work! it just proves that people will take money over the environment ANY DAy. this is disheartening…

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