NEMA has taken a strong stance on industrial pollution in the country, as the regulator continues its nationwide crackdown on factories explicitly disregarding environmental regulations.

Three pyrolysis factories operating in different parts of the country have been subjected to forceful closure by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) due to operating without approval from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

An EIA report assesses the potential benefits and risks tied to a proposed development or project. It considers the environmental, social and economic effects for sustainability whilst reducing environmental harm.

NEMA clarified on March 7th that it had shut down one facility in South C along with two others in Samburu and Kilifi counties. It was alleged that the factories mishandled black carbon, improperly disposed extracted from tyres and released harmful emissions.

Consequently, NEMA sent improvement notices to the three factories, directing them to check their emissions and surrounding air quality. This review will help measure the impact their operations have had on the environment.

“The Authority issued improvement notices to three pyrolysis plants for emitting fugitive emissions, poor management of black carbon and improper handling of extracted wires from tyres,” NEMA stated.

“In Samburu, the factories were involved in recycling iron and the pyrolysis of waste tyres,” the statement added.

The government agency urged factories to comply with environmental regulations to ensure friendly industrial operations. This crackdown on pyrolysis factories comes a month when NEMA closed down a wood processing factory in Nakuru for recklessly emitting harmful gases.

The authority maintained that factory lacked an Emissions Licence. Additionally, it had not implemented pollution control measures. Thus operations ceased immediately until it complied with NEMAs set environmental standards.

 “NEMA has shut down the company located in the Ketigoi area, Mau Summit, Kuresoi Sub-County, Nakuru County, after it failed to comply with the conditions of the Environmental Restoration Order issued on 6 August 2024, followed by an inspection conducted on 23 January 2024,” read part of the statement.

“The facility had fugitive emissions visible from various leakages in the boiler area and across the entire facility, causing an uproar among the neighbouring community due to the potential effects of such emissions.”