Several companies, across numerous industries, are faced with the obligation to lower their emissions to meet legislative requirements coming into force on April 1, 2015, and again on April 1, 2020.

These requirements are the result of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (the Act), as a measure to control emissions released into the South African atmosphere and to protect citizens from dangerous levels of air pollution.

New analysis from market research analyst Frost & Sullivan finds that companies across the chemicals, cement, oil and gas, mining, power generation, metal, glass, tyre and sugar industries will apply for exemption from the first round of emission control, coming into effect in 2015.

As the costs involved in complying with two emission control changes would be too prohibitive, most companies will undertake one large capital expenditure project to meet the revised levels, due to come into force in 2020.

The time taken to acquire board approval, select the appropriate supplier and install the equipment can take months, if not years, from start to finish.

“Many of the companies across industries will need to allow for massive capital expenditure projects (into the tens of millions in some instances) to meet the revised 2020 emission levels,” notes Frost & Sullivan consultant Andrew Minor.

Companies such as industrial emission control company J&C Engineering have taken the initiative to support the legislation to reduce emissions by entering into strategic international partnerships with companies such as Germany-based air filtration devices manufacturer Beth Filters.

This strategic partnership enables J&C Engineering to offer turnkey solutions to the market and a broader array of cost-effective solutions to the industry to help emitters meet the revised requirements.

“The new air quality target places more stringent limits on industries to reduce their emissions to acceptable levels,” notes J&C Engineering director Joseph Edward Peel.

“This strategic alliance will now offer cost-effective emission control solutions to smaller industry participants, includ- ing boilers, foundries and the chemicals sectors,” he adds.

While the legislation for reducing emissions may have high cost implications for industry, the legislation is a positive step towards lowering harmful pollutant levels, supporting the global drive to decrease harmful emissions across relevant industries, and enhance environmental sustainability and access to clean resources.