Tyre Burning: Three steel factories reopened

The owners of the other two factories denied using tyres as fuel: DDO EPD said.

LAHORE: Three steel rolling factories sealed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on June 4 for suspicion of using tyres as fuel have been reopened. The owner of one factory has assured the EPD that he will install a wet scrubber to reduce sulphur and carbon emissions from the factory, said Zahid Younas, the deputy district officer for the environment. He said the three factories had been sealed when inspectors found large stockpiles of tyres in them, which usually meant that the tyres were being used as fuel. The owners of the other two factories denied using tyres as fuel, he said. All three have been unsealed. Burning tyres releases large amounts of carbon monoxide, sulphur, particulate matter and other pollutants in the atmosphere. “These factories usually use them as a cheaper alternative to gas or wood,” Younas said. “They usually do it at night to prevent the neighbours from complaining to city environment officials.”  He said many factories in Lahore resorted to burning tyres for fuel when their gas connections expired. He said that the three factories are located on Mominpura Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2011.