Between 2013 and 2014 Natref undertook a process to apply for postponements from the 2015 compliance timeframes of the MES. Natref was granted postponements for a number of its operations by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO), with the concurrence of its licensing officer. However, Natref was unable, in certain instances, to timeously meet the compliance requirements of the 2015 MES where postponements have been granted for less than five years, as initially requested.
On 27 March 2018 Natref was granted postponement of compliance timeframes relating to the MES (subcategory 2.1 and 2.2) issued in terms of the NEM:AQA.
The postponement included emissions from the Fluidised Catalytic Cracker (FCC) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Boiler governed under MES subcategory 2.2. For this source postponement for Particulate Matter (PM) was granted until 31 March 2022.
As part of compliance requirements Natref’s air quality compliance roadmap included the installation of an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) to further reduce PM emissions. All required major tie-ins for the ESP were completed during the 2021 shutdown bringing the actual ESP construction progress status to approximately 85%. The ESP is planned for commissioning by February 2022 and operation by April 2022. However, an upgrade of the CO boiler is required to ensure the optimal functioning of the ESP.
Due to capital constraints, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary abatement on the FCC, namely the ESP, was prioritised and the upgrade to the CO boiler needs to be postponed.
Natref has therefore submitted, to the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO), an application for amendment of the postponement compliance date, from 31 March 2022 to 31 March 2025, to enable the completion of the compliance roadmap. The application only relates to the FCC and CO Boiler project. No adjustment to the alternative limit of 150 mg/Nm3, as granted per the 2018 postponement, and reflected in the current AEL has been requested.”
