Mondi’s new turbine steams up community
Noise from Mondi Richards Bay's new turbine steam pipe cause uproar in community
EMPANGENI residents thought aliens invaders had arrived on Thursday evening when loud whining and screeching noises filled the air for over an hour.
Some of the community mistook the violent sounds for ‘a jumbo jet making an emergency landing’ and ‘noisy duel electronic locomotives’ coming through town.
‘My wife and I were watching TV at home when we heard what we thought was a jumbo jet flying very low,’ said one resident.
‘This noise got louder and louder until we were convinced that this ‘plane’ was in deep trouble and was trying to make an emergency landing somewhere.
‘We then went onto our veranda where the noise was even louder but we could not make any sense of the source of the noise.’
Yet others believed an industrial disaster was imminent as they waited for an explosion – and they were nearer the truth.
A newly-installed turbine steam pipe installed at the Mondi Richards Bay mill was the cause of the panicky calls and complaints.
Mondi on Friday released a statement explaining the pipeline’s purpose as well as the control procedures followed by the plant.
‘In any construction activity where steam, water and air piping are installed, it is compulsory that these pipe lines are flushed in order to remove any remains that may have been left in the pipes during construction,’ says the statement.
‘This is to prevent blockages and damages to the equipment that is serviced by these pipes.
‘The practice will continue for a few hours using the method as prescribed in the Steam Piping Blowing Procedure.’
Noise levels of the practice are considered as a ‘hazard’ at above 85 decibels, but Mondi says measures have been implemented to manage the steam exercise.
‘The mill alarm will be activated 10 minutes before each exercise for evacuation and all clear.
‘The duration of each steam blow is about 20 minutes.
‘Work at Southeys, Contractor City and Coal off Loading will be suspended until the clear permission is given by the fire department.’
Mondi employees are also wearing hearing protection for the duration of the exercise and rail traffic has been closed for the day.
The law state let your town know of anything that is going to disrupt the residents in your town come on Mondi this was unfair to scare half of the town including me