Pacific Cement Ltd issued with order to stop work

Fiji's Pacific Cement Ltd, a subsidiary of Fijian Holdings Ltd based in Lami, has been issued a Stop Work Notice by the country’s Department of Environment. The department visited the plant after receiving a complaint from a resident related to dust emissions.

However, the order will be lifted if the plant observes mitigation practices. "We give them a pathway to remedy the breach and we will lift the notice after they enforce mitigation policies," said Joshua Wycliffe, permanent secretary for Environment.

Mr Wycliffe said the Department of Environment has issued an air pollution permit to the company, therefore Pacific Cement Ltd has to ensure that there is no dust emission generated during handling, transporting or even processing.

"We want to acknowledge there is dust emission sometimes, not all the time," said Nouzab Fareed, group CEO, Fijian Holdings Ltd.

Mr Fareed also noted that the plant requires over 100,000tpa of clinker. "So whenever clinker comes, it comes to Suva port and it is transported to Lami, so it is not only for Pacific Cement, but also from another cement producing factory," said Mr Fareed.