The subject of the Transnet Petroleum Pipeline project and its 705 kilometre multi-product pipeline was on everyone’s lips at the recent meeting of Roodepoort’s Disaster Management Advisory Sub-forum (DMAS). The meeting, chaired by Ebrahim Hoosen, was held at the Civic Centre and various stakeholders attended.
The multi-product pipeline will replace the existing 49-year-old Durban to Johannesburg pipeline. The multi-billion rand pipeline is a burning issue and hits close to home as it runs through Matholesville where low-cost housing has been built. It also traverses Durban Deep, metres away from the borders of Witpoortjie before it reaches the Tarlton Distribution Depot. It will be located a mere 1,5 metres under the ground and will carry more than 16 billion litres of liquid fuel and more than 450 million cubic metres of various gases a year. The forum’s main concern is the lack of contingency planning for an emergency such as a leak causing extensive damage to an area.
Transnet’s Francois Malan delivered a presentation on the pipeline and then answered the forum’s burning questions.
“There are numerous ways at different stages of the pipeline to shut off the supply from Durban in the event of an emergency. However, even though the supply may be cut off, it may still take hours for everything to filter out. The pipes can only be closed manually, and staff from Tarlton will be needed to assist,” he said.
This news did not sit well with the members of the forum, who pointed out how far out on the West Rand Tarlton is to be tasked with assisting when problems are experienced.
Ward 71 councillor Gert Niemand was very vocal about the dangers of the pipeline running through the community. “The pipelines are 1,5m or less under the ground, which is not very deep,” he said. “Although the pipelines are marked, the community does not know what these markers are. One strike with a spade in the wrong section could cause a disaster. Imagine the enormous damage a fuel leak would cause. Worse still, imagine a gas leak, which just needs a spark for it to become an inferno. Are the local firefighters equipped with the necessary tools to combat such a situation? Will they have access to the burst pipeline in time to minimise the danger?” he went on.
The forum stressed the importance of more engagement with Transnet regarding the impact the pipeline will have on the community. “The people need to know about the dangers of this pipeline. Consider the issue of illegal miners. Those miners are just one cigarette puff away from oblivion in the event of a gas leak, and the damage would be enormous. We need to engage the community as well and caution them,” said Hoosen.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Krugersdorp News and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
