CHAMWE KAIRA
Xeva Investment CC plans to invest in a new piggery facility at Usakos with a capacity to slaughter 14 400 heads of pigs as well as renovating the existing piggery facilities at the town.
Acacia Enviro Consulting CC has been appointed by Xeva Investment Cc to act on their behalf in obtaining an Environmental Clearance Certificate to construct and operate the piggery facilities.
The project aims to address a number of needs in Usakos and the Erongo region at large including that the piggery could reduce the need for long-distance transport of animals for processing, potentially lowering costs and improving animal welfare.
The other needs include providing a local source of pork could improve food security and affordability for residents and that the project will create employment opportunities during construction and operation, further boosting the local economy.
The first project involves renovating and operating the existing Usakos animal abattoir in the Usakos district Erongo region.
The second project involves constructing and operating a new a piggery facility in the Usakos district.
“The scope of this project will include the construction, operation and management of the piggery facility. It will cover all steps from the lairages for holding received pigs to the slaughter house, meat processing facility, chillers, quartering, loading and dispatch bay, administration area, guard house, ablution facility, and waste management facility,” said project documents.
Xeva said the project will create employment opportunities during construction and operation, further boosting the local economy.
In terms of the Namibia Environmental Management Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, an environmental clearance application will be submitted to the Ministry of Environmental, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) for approval before the commencement the proposed project.
The proposed project triggered the application for an environmental clearance certificate because of odors from slaughter and processing can be a nuisance to nearby communities. Additionally, emissions from boilers and generators can contribute to air pollution.
The piggery will generate a significant amount of solid waste, including animal carcasses, packaging materials, and manure. This waste needs to be disposed of properly to avoid attracting pests and contaminating the environment.
Slaughter and processing activities can generate noise that disturbs nearby residents and also generate a significant amount of solid waste, including animal carcasses, packaging materials and manure.
The piggery will also generate large amounts of wastewater containing blood, manure, and other organic matter and if not treated properly, this wastewater can pollute waterways and harm aquatic life.
On the potential environment issues, Xeva said the potential impacts are anticipated to be of low significance, and in an event where impacts occur, they will be contained within the project area.
