Cape Town - Bo-Kaap residents have raised concerns about plans for the operation of a gold refining facility on the fringe of their historical neighbourhood.
Lueven Metals, a precious metals trading and refining business operating in the area, has applied to the Department of Environmental Affairs for permission to use chemicals to operate a gold refinery.
The refinery would occupy 55m2 within the OroAfrica jewellery manufacturing and distribution building, on Buitengracht Street.
In a letter by the company’s director, Konrad van Essen, to the city council, he said chemicals like nitric acid and hydrochloric acid would be used in the dissolution process, but would not cause any “disturbance”.
But the chairman of the Bo-Kaap Civic Association, Osman Shaboodien, said it was “ludicrous” to propose an industrial business in an area surrounded by a cluster of homes. “This is not something we can support. There is definitely something that doesn’t smell nice about this.”
The property is zoned for mixed use, which includes the refining of precious metals.
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“The proposed development would be considered practical as the activity falls within the zoning of the area and has a very small footprint,” said a scoping report distributed to residents.
Fowzia Achmat, who lives adjacent to the jewellery manufacturing building, said there were already effects from other jewellery businesses operating from the same premises. Achmat, whose balcony overlooks the factory, said she felt a gold refining operation was inappropriate for the area. “Other businesses within the same zoning haven’t gone that far. On a clear day, you can see fine smoke and there is noise coming from there that we have complained about before,” said Achmat.
Lueven Metals is proposing to refine scrap jewellery and “old” gold for the local and export markets.
According to the scoping report, the community will not be directly affected by the proposed refining process.
“Based on specific process information obtained from the technology suppliers, the site activities and gas released from the scrubber is not regarded as noxious or as risk activity. The required air quality screening assessment will be completed to confirm this,” it said.
Van Essen confirmed that the equipment to operate the refinery was already on the premises, but not in operation. Shaboodien said he found this”presumptuous”.
“It undermines the process. It makes me feel wary that they are so confident that the project will be authorised. Nobody would invest so much money in something that may be shut down,” he said.
A public participation process was initiated last month based on a draft scoping report compiled by environmental consultants. Residents and businesses in the area were informed of the plans through letters.
“We are aware of the concerns and they will be dealt with as part of the process,” said Van Essen.
Osman said the association needed more time to study the report and to get a professional opinion on the effect a refinery would have, not only on the Bo-Kaap, but the wider area.
The civic association said it was misleading for Lueven Metals to suggest that the proposed site of the refinery was in the city centre, when in fact it was part of the Bo-Kaap. The primary elements of the refinery would include a process reactor, a precipitator, waste tanks, fume extraction pipes and a double fume scrubber.
“The resultant nitrous oxide gas from the process will be collected, extracted and discharged via a double fume scrubber located behind the building but within the internal courtyard area of the premises.’’
The refining process would use less than 0.5m3 of potable municipal water a day.
Lueven Metals is required by law to submit its final scoping report to the Department of Environmental Affairs by the end of the month.
The council would be responsible for issuing an Atmospheric Emissions Licence.
ARGUS