Problem overview:

     Policies and measures: In Fiji, a cement factory has been causing severe air pollution from dust particles from production of cement. Local communities have been complaining about the problem for years but there was no change. Until, a new government stepped in and took charge of pollution management.

Background:

      Fiji industries Ltd., a Cement Manufacturing Company has been operating a cement plant in Lami, Suva, Fiji for many years. Despite repeated requests from the local municipal council and the public to control dust emissions from the cement kiln chimney, the company was not able to comply. When the current Minister for Environment took office in 1995 he approached the Cement Company to effectively control the dust emissions.

      The company undertook studies to determine the optimum solution to the problem and decided to switch to a new bag filter system. The Company briefed the Minister of its intentions. However, the equipment for the filtration installation was extremely expensive. The Company submitted a case for the government to provide concessions on duty, based on the company's willingness to invest substantially to meet an important social duty.

      With the support of the Minister for Environment, the Minister of Finance responded positively and this resulted in the Company importing and installing a state of art filtration system in the chimney while making significant savings for the Company.

      Today, solid discharge from the chimney is below measurable limits. They cannot normally be detected.