By Elishamai A. Ziumbwa
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has called on businesses using large standby generators to get proper licences for their equipment to avoid penalties.
In a statement, EMA provincial manager for Harare, Leon Mutungamiri said commercial property owners with standby generators over five kilovolt-amperes (5KVA) must obtain air emissions licences from the agency.
“Standby generators should comply with air emissions licensing provisions sited in the Environmental Management Act Cap 20:27 as read with Statutory Instrument 72 of 2009, Atmospheric Pollution Control,” said Mutungamiri
He said backup generators release pollutants into the air when they burn fuel and are considered sources of atmospheric pollution under the law.
“Standby power generators with a power rating that is more than five Kilovolts-Amperes [>5KVA] shall emit the exhaust emissions under a license by the Environmental Management Agency, excluding households,” he said.
Mutungamiri also confirmed that EMA is currently carrying out inspections across the Harare Metropolitan Province to check for compliance and businesses found operating generators without the required licences will face fines.
He urged all companies in Harare to regularise their operations to avoid penalties.
“All premises with emitting generators which are more than 5KVA, excluding households, are supposed to visit the Environmental Management Agency offices and acquire a license. Operators of generators without a license will be issued with tickets for non-compliance,” he said.
According to the Environmental Management Act, “No owner or operator of a trade or any establishment shall emit a substance or energy which causes or is likely to cause air pollution without an emission license issued by the Agency.”
