Tata Steel’s permits for the emission of harmful substances are being tightened up and extra checks will be carried out on those emissions. In this way, the central government and the province of Noord-Holland want to improve the air quality around the steel company in IJmuiden more quickly, according to an action plan that was presented today.
Within a year, it will be measured whether Tata also adheres to the stricter standards. This is done through two independent investigations by the RIVM into settled dust in the vicinity of the company, writes outgoing State Secretary Van Weyenberg of Infrastructure and Water Management to the House of Representatives.
Due to the tightened permits, Tata Steel is forced to adapt factories and production processes, writes Van Weyenberg. According to him, it does not solve all the problems of the local residents. “The plan does mean an acceleration towards a healthier living environment, with agreements and rules that Tata Steel is bound by.”
70 percent less lead
In september RIVM concluded that the health of children in particular in the IJmond area is at risk due to the emission of hazardous substances, such as lead. The House of Representatives then urged the cabinet to take action.
At the insistence of the ministry and the province, Tata Steel has now decided to accelerate a number of plans to reduce emissions. For example, the company does not want to emit 70 percent less lead in 2025, but already in 2023, compared to 2019. The emission of carcinogenic PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) will be reduced by 50 percent at the beginning of next year.
Van Weyenberg wants to “translate these promises into mandatory measures where possible”. To see whether Tata keeps its promises, the checks will be expanded and RIVM will therefore carry out additional investigations.
Most complaints from local residents are about odor nuisance. According to the action plan, a few things have already been done, but not enough. By tightening up the permits, the company must continuously combat odor nuisance.
Switching to hydrogen
The steel giant had already the ambition expressed to work more sustainably. For example, the furnaces, which currently still run on coal, must be completely converted to hydrogen by 2050. That is much cleaner, but it is not yet clear whether that will actually work. Moreover, according to the ministry, the province and the municipalities in the IJmond area, that takes far too long. In the short term, Tata must produce cleaner and more sustainably.
The EU also plays an important role in this. It is the intention that guidelines on the emission of harmful substances will be amended in the coming years, so that companies are allowed to emit even less. But we are not there yet. Van Weyenberg sees opportunities and wants to work with like-minded countries to push for stricter standards.
What kind of company is Tata Steel and why is this steel giant often in the news? NOS on 3 explains it in this video:
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