Asbestos ban will hit Zim-SA traffic

Threat to transit cargo as well KEVIN MAYHEW IMMINENT GOVERNMENT legislation banning the use of asbestos for the manufacture of a number of products could impact significantly on the level of asbestos transported from Zimbabwe through South Africa. In the short term the move will only threaten asbestos fibre destined for South Africa. In the longer term transit through the country for overseas markets could be at risk. During a recent National Assembly Budget Debate, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said regulations to prohibit the use of asbestos for most products would be published this year. “For certain products, where no current alternatives are available, we will allow for a three- to five-year phasing out period,” van Schalkwyk said. According to the final report submitted last year on the impact of the move it will be most severely felt by Zimbabwe and transporters involved in the movement of asbestos from that country. Asbestos mining stopped in South Africa at the end of 2001 and only milled fibre stockpiles remain. Manufacturers involved in the production of alternative products to asbestos expect a spike in importation in the next few months to stockpile in South Africa. These stockpiles will be used to continue manufacturing asbestos products for the South African market until they are depleted. At present about 2000 tons a month are being imported into the country, mainly from Zimbabwe. Swaziland will be a victim as it will lose the freight charges for Zimbabwean exports through the country destined for the South African market as they drop off. However, the bulk of Zimbabwean exports merely transit through South Africa for overseas destinations using a network of rail and road services and warehousing. The report does not stipulate whether this network will remain, or under what conditions, to meet South Africa’s stricter environmental and handling requirements.