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Jordan: Fuheis residents demand action over pollution

AMMAN -- Hundreds of Fuheis residents on Saturday staged a three-hour demonstration in front of the town's cement factory in protest against its "damaging effects on the environment and their health."

Protesters called for an improvement in environmental conditions at the facility and for it to be "gradually relocated" to another site.

They also called on the Jordan Cement Factories Company (JCFC) and French company La Farge, the major stakeholder, to implement measures to minimise the impact on the environment, including proper sealing for loaded trucks and a more controlled use of dynamite.

"La Farge is implementing advanced environmental procedures in its factories around Europe, but in Jordan it is doing nothing to protect the environment," said Deputy Fakhri Escander, one of the protesters.

"In Europe, when a truck leaves the factory it is properly sealed, even washed so cement dust does not fly around," he added.

Around 1,000 people, including members of the municipal council, lawmakers and tribal leaders took part in the three-hour protest.

Trucks coming to-and- from the factory were halted during the demonstration, which ended peacefully as security forces looked on.

Participants criticised the government for not doing enough to force the company to adhere to environmental protocols.

"They do not care about us, neither the government, nor the French company. Our children are suffering everyday with all kinds of diseases," shouted a shop owner in front of the town's main square.

Yesterday's demonstration was just the latest in a long series of protests by local residents.

In January 2005, the company announced it would implement a master plan to tackle pollution, according to which loading trucks would enter and exit the factory premises from a different location, away from inhabited areas.

But 20 months later, lorries loaded with cement still use the town's main road with cement particles visible to the naked eye.

Officials from the JCFC were not available for comment.

Last year, senior government officials inaugurated a $3.5 million dust filter installed by JCFC to help reduce emissions.
Company officials then said the filter was part of their efforts to address the environmental concerns of the town's residents.
The filter, which replaced the old and ineffective de-dusting system, utilises advanced technology to reduce dust emissions and has a competence rate of more than 98 per cent, according to factory officials. The dust content emitted by the new filter will be less than 20 mg/Nm3, well under the legal level of 250 mg/Nm3 permitted by law.

But residents remain sceptical about the benefit of the filter, saying the factory remains a major source of pollution to their hilly town.

"If you take a look at the dust coming out from the factory, you would not notice any difference. Mining has also increased lately which has caused more dust to fly around and pollute the area," said Escander.

The government has repeatedly said it is committed to improving the environmental situation in their area by implementing a plan that ensures a balance between the "interests of the country and citizens' right to a clean environment."

The five-decade-old cement factory is located within a stone's throw from the centre of the town, which has a population of 25,000.

In 2005, the Ministry of Environment prevented the factory from using petcoke instead of fuel after an outcry by local residents.

By Mohammad Ben Hussein

© Jordan Times 2006