EMA speaks on generator use

Tanaka Mahanya

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has clarified that only industrial generators have to be licenced.

A message had been circulating on social media claiming that generators for domestic purposes have to be licenced by EMA.

In a statement, EMA environmental education and publicity manager, Amkela Sidange, said: “As a matter of fact, Section 64 of the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27) stipulates that, ‘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 licence’, thus clearly indicating that this is an operation at commercial level or for industrial use.

“In this case, a generator becomes the appliance and if it is consuming more than 5kg per hour of fuel, and being used for commercial purposes or industrial use, then it must be licenced by the Agency.”

She said the law clarifies that the appliance is defined on fuel consumption and not on power basis that the public has been made to understand.

“On that note, the Agency wants to implore members of the public to always look at the brighter side of this piece of legislative narrative which seeks to prevent air pollution and ensure members of the public enjoy access to a clean environment, which is not harmful to health.

“Also, prevention of air pollution dovetails towards the fight against climate change, where as a country, we want to achieve our nationally determined contributions of 40 percent per capita emissions reduction across all sectors of the economy,” she said.

Sidange urged those found on the wrong side of the law not to cause unnecessary panic by disseminating incorrect information.

“People should engage the Agency through its various platforms when not clear about certain environmental law implications.

“The Agency remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional mandate to provide for the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment; the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation; with stakeholder participation.

“We work with the people, for the people and through the people, protecting the environment.”