REFINERY BLAZE
A large fire broke out on 25th June 2019 inside a
warehouse operated by Indorama Ventures, a global
plastic manufacturer based within the CEPSA refi-
nery complex, causing alarm and further concern for
the environmental and health impact the petroche-
mical plant poses on the Campo de Gibraltar.
At around 15:30 in the afternoon thick black
smoke could be seen billowing over the Campo, with
residents on both sides of the border advised to stay
indoors and close all windows due to fears that the
fumes may be harmful. After several hours Indorama
advised that ‘the smoke generated [was] not toxic’
and that the area was safe.
Fortunately, this incident was not as disastrous
as it could have been. Due to the plants location it
has rightfully been an issue of contention for many
years, with environmental campaigners continually
calling for tighter controls on, and even the removal
of, the refinery.
The area has some of the worst air quality on the
planet, Gibraltar ranks as the 4th most polluted area
of the UK and Cadiz province has the worst air qua-
lity in Spain.
Results of air samples have been regularly repor-
ted to EU institutions but no real action has been
taken. With mounting health concerns and the ur-
gent need to tackle climate change, more has to be
done to hold these industries accountable.
Incendio en refinería
Se produjo un gran incendio el 25 de junio de 2019 den-
tro de un almacén gestionado por Indorama Ventures,
un fabricante mundial de plásticos en el complejo de
refinería CEPSA, causando alarma y una gran preocupa-
ción por el impacto ambiental y sanitario que esta plan-
ta petroquímica representa en el Campo de Gibraltar.
Alrededor de las 15:30 de la tarde, se podía ver
humo negro y espeso sobre la comarca, y los resi-
dentes de ambos lados de la frontera avisados de
permanecer en el interior y cerrar todas las venta-
nas debido al temor de que los humos pudieran ser
dañinos. Después de varias horas, Indorama informó
que “el humo generado no era tóxico” y que el área
era segura.
Afortunadamente, este incidente no fue tan de-
sastroso como podría haber sido. Debido a la ubica-
ción de la planta, ha sido legítimamente un tema de
disputa durante muchos años, ya que los activistas
ambientales pidieron controles más estrictos e inclu-
so la eliminación de la refinería.
El área tiene una de las peores calidades de aire
en el planeta, Gibraltar se ubica como la cuarta área
más contaminada del Reino Unido y la provincia de
Cádiz tiene la peor calidad de aire en España.
Los resultados de las muestras de aire se han infor-
mado regularmente a las instituciones de la UE, pero
no se han tomado medidas reales. Con la creciente
preocupación por la salud y la necesidad urgente de
abordar el cambio climático, se debe hacer más para
que estas industrias se hagan responsables.
.
GLASTONBURY SAYS NO TO PLASTIC
The hundreds of thousands that attended Glaston-
bury 2019 have exceeded all expectations and suc-
cessfully took to the responsibility of bringing their
own reusable flasks and bottles. This year’s event
was its greenest ever by prohibiting the sale of sin-
gle-use plastic bottles for the first time. Despite the
heat wave, which consequently caused longer than
expected queue’s to access water points, the festi-
vals attendees have shown that in the short, medium
and long term, change is possible.
In 2017, festival goers used 1.3 million plastic bo-
ttles, highlighting the ecological impact the five day
music festival has on the environment.
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OTWO 01 / AUGUST 2019