Six SW Companies Dragged To Court for Environmental Crimes

The Southwest Regional Delegate for Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED), Mr. Set Ekwadi Songue, has disclosed that over six companies in the Southwest Region are presently in court for refusing to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of their projects.

Speaking to GV (The Green Vision Newspaper), July 21, 2016, Mr. Ekwadi said these companies, mostly of the quarry sector, have either conducted an EIA of their project and are not implementing or have refused executing it, even when the sizes, nature or impact of activities on the natural environment warrant it.

The MINEPDED Southwest Boss added that every administrative procedure was carried out to ensure that these companies assess the impact of their activities on the environment to no avail.

“Our major problem regarding EIA in the region is with the quarry companies. We have sensitised, advised and even fined them in accordance with article 79 of the August 1996 Framework law relating to Environmental Management to no avail. We were thus left with no option than to drag them to court to defend themselves…..no one is above the law” he said.

Quizzed on the plight of some 9 companies fined FCFA 52 million between 2009 and 2014 for environmental crime in the region, the MINEPDED Regional Delegate said more than 80% of the companies have complied.

He remarked that companies are increasingly adhering to environmental norms in the region.

“PHP Banana Company in Tiko and CAFECO have completed the Environmental Audit (EA) process, CDC is supposed to carry out EA for all its structures but the minister permitted them to conduct it per locality and per factory; they have done so for about 7 of their structures but some are still left like the Edenau and Illoini Factories. Mbo plantation is in the EIA process. SONARA is okay even though they have some environmental problems but I think they are trying. PAMOL has started the process and should be through by the end of the year. King David Square was sanctioned 3 millions in 2014 but this has not been paid” the MINEPDED SW boss x-rayed.

He added that all petroleum companies have complied except for the ‘new ones’. Meanwhile Tole Tea has, for financial reasons, been given 2 to 3 years to carry out EA, after which legal actions will be taken against her if nothing is done.

 Environmental Impact Assessment is governed by Article 17 of the 1996 Framework law relating to Environmental Management. This law states that “the developer or owner of any development project, work, equipment or installation which could, because of its size, nature or activities exerted on the natural environment harming it, is required to achieve, according to the requirements of specifications, an impact study to assess the direct and indirect impacts of that project on the ecological balance of the settlement area or any other area, the environment and quality of life populations and impacts on the environment in general”

Any company which fails to carry out an EIA in the country in consonance with Article 79 of the Frame Work Law is liable to a fine of FCFA 2,000,000 (two million) to FCFA 5,000,000 (five million) and/or a prison sentence of six months to two years.