Response to SDCEA's media release of 4 October 2004

04 October 2004

SAPREF rejects the allegation that it is conspiring to withhold key information regarding its pipelines.

The pipeline study was commissioned by the eThekwini Heath Department. They have subsequently advised us that, given their role in initiating the study, the City would publicly release the report. As the local authority, SAPREF is obliged to abide by their arrangements. SAPREF has repeatedly committed to SDCEA its willingness to discuss the report, and SAPREF's plans regarding the pipelines, as soon as possible following the public release of the report. As part of our commitment to sharing information, SAPREF has undertaken to arrange meetings and presentations to all other stakeholder groups once the report has been released.

Since 2001 SAPREF has conducted annual inspections on its lines and based on the results has been systematically replacing sections of pipeline. The results of the pipeline study will inform any future work on the lines. From the start of the study, SAPREF has said it would abide by the recommendations of the report

Notes to editors :
    1. The pipeline study was commissioned by eThekwini Health following a leak on Sapref's petrol pipeline in July 2001. The leak was caused by external corrosion.
    2. An aggressive programme was immediately launched to extract the petrol and to remediate the ground.
    3. 1.2 million litres of petrol has been recovered and there is very little petrol remaining