CEAN AIR: DANGOTE CEMENT REACHING FOR THE BLUE SKIES

By Francis Awowole-Browne

Air pollution has identified as one of the greatest environmental risk to human health with far-reaching impacts owing to its spread over long distances. In fact, it is estimated that no fewer than seven million people die prematurely every year worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO). The deaths occasioned by complications arising from respiratory problems, heart disease and cancer, all traced to polluted air.

Given the significance of casualties from air pollution, the United Nations earmarked every September 7 as International Day of Clean Air for the Blue Skies. Air Pollution is a major environmental problem that affects people all over the world, therefore it calls for the need for strong partnership to stem the tide of air pollution and its attendant effect on human, hence the theme for this year’s Day “Together for Clean Air”.

The transboundary nature of air pollution calls for concerted efforts and this was why this year’s theme focused on alliances, shared responsibilities and increased investments to protect the earth from fouled atmospheric condition and have healthy and clean air for all.

It is on this premise that leading Africa Cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s Clean Air Day through creation of awareness on the dangers of polluted air, the importance of clean air for health, productivity, the economy, the environment and the strategies for achieving clean air both as an individual and as an organization. This is because, air pollution manifests in dual fold of health and climate impacts.  The Day was marked across the three plants of the Company in Nigeria and pan-African.

The health impact of air pollution consists in tiny, microscopic particles which penetrate deep into human lungs, bloodstream and bodies. These pollutants are responsible for about one-third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well as one quarter of deaths from heart attack.

On the other hand, the Climatic impact consists of pollutants with a high global warming potential and harm people, ecosystems, and agricultural productivity. They are also responsible for up to 45% of current much touted global warming.

With this view, Dangote Cement, a notable Champion of climate change segmented its Cean Air Day activities with each plant and its Corporate centre marking the Day in style. As part of the activities to mark the Day at the Global Headquarter of the Cement company in Lagos, the Occupational Health Safety & Environment (OHS&E) department led by Satya Prakash organized a webinar involving stakeholders from the renewable energy private sector, Arnergy and National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), a government agency, who spoke on the roles of Individuals, industry, and regulators in achieving clean air.

Omobola Omofaiye, the Chief Commercial Officer of Arnergy, analyzed the air quality index explaining that Air Quality connotes how clean and suitable the air is for humans and the environment and that good air quality indicates the air is free from pollution, while the Air Quality Index is a public measure of the dangers of air pollution.

According to her, Air Quality Index has six categories representing different levels of health concern ranging from good, moderate, unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy and Hazardous noting that Greenhouse gas emission constitute the major cause of air pollution of the ecosystem.

She said the Nigeria eco system is impacted negatively by the heavy reliance on fossil fuel for power generation and quoted the African Development Bank as estimating that Nigerians spend $14bn fuelling petrol or diesel-powered generators and over 40% of Nigerian households owning fuel generators and bear the associated costs according to Stears and Sterling report in June 2022

Omofaiye posited that fossil fuel have an outsized negative impact on the environment. “The consumption of one litre of diesel emits, on average, 2.7kg of CO2. In addition to carbon monoxide, fossil fuel creates air pollutants and hazardous exhaust fumes.”

She therefore canvassed for the use of easily accessible alternative fuel in Solar energy which is Clean energy source, highly reliable and accessible. “It can be offered as centralized or distributed systems with lithium battery energy storage system for commercial and residential use. It is built with embedded intelligence application for remote monitoring and energy management.

At the industrial level, renewable energy expert listed other sources of clean energy as comprising of Biomass, Wind and Hydropower. Benefits of these clean alternative energy she stated include “the reduction in fossil fuel consumption; Reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions: The reduction in CO2 emissions from solar power generation helps combat climate change, which can exacerbate air quality issues through factors such as increased heatwaves and the formation of ground-level ozone; Decreased Indoor Air Pollution and Energy efficiency and lower waste generation.

The concomitant effects of these alternatives, she pointed out are that they would aid the reduction in carbon emission and achievement of good air quality, leads to lower cost when compared with the cost of fossil-based generator and asides guaranteeing 24 hour stable business operations for productivity and reduction of operating expenses, they bring about compliance to regulatory emission standards and good corporate image.

In his presentation, The Asst. Director & Head Environmental Quality Management of NESREA, Mr. Usman Musa appreciated Dangote Cement for the initiative which supports the regulation of air quality in Nigeria as cement production process worldwide contains primary air pollutant sources.

From the regulatory point, Musa highlighted some regulatory measures which he said are targeted at preventing and minimizing pollution from all operations and ancillary activities of the industrial sector players.

Part of the measures are the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for new projects or modification including expansion of existing ones before commencement while existing industries are required to Submit Environmental Audit Reports (EAR) conducted by external consultants accredited by the Agency for existing industries every 3 years and Permit for Waste generation and Air Quality to be obtained every year.

The Dangote Cement Plc, Group Head of OHS&E, Prakash in his own remark while stating Dangote Cement’s commitment to clean air  gave insights into eco-friendly activities the Cement Company had undertaken and still working on and which everyone can switch to in order to achieve less emissions of dust and GHGs to the air.

At the ibese, Ogun State plant of the Company, talks were held on achieving clean ambient air quality, air pollution crises, types of pollutants, and how to ensure cleaner air and blue skies. The awareness engagements on particulate and gaseous emission management (measurement, calculation, and control) involved staff across production, instrumentation, mechanical, electrical, OHS&E departments.

At the Gboko, Benue state plant, the Clean Air Day was commemorated with presentation to the Plant Director (PD), Heads of Departments, Unit Heads, Staff and Drivers on the types of emissions present in the plant processes, the hazards to human health and abatement measures with emphasis on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and adherence to Dangote Health, Safety, Social and Environment golden rules.

The Clean Air Day at Obajana, Kogi State held with discussions with personnels across production lines on their roles in controlling particulate matter and gaseous emissions whilst ensuring effective cement operations. The plant maintenance team was enlightened on the two-abatement technology that had been adopted – the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and Bag Filter for the improvement of equipment maintenance for efficiency.

Similar activities were held Okpella Cement plant in Edo state, with the sensitization of staff on poor air quality and the impact of the business on the environment during a safety gate meeting.

The sensitization of management and frontline supervisors dwelled on the Importance of maintaining clean and healthy air which can be impacted by the different plant activities from clinker, and cement production to bagging and finally proper housekeeping. Management of plant then took a walk  to the emission-prone areas and location of emission control systems.

The Dangote Cement’s pan-Africa operations in Zambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroun and South Africa among others, the Clean Air Day activities were centered on prevention and reduction of air pollution to improve air quality. The operations staff had sessions on the high cost of air pollution to the society due to the negative impacts on the economy, work productivity, healthcare costs and tourism, among others.