Chinese abattoir plans continue

Members of the public and other interested parties have until the end of August to highlight their concerns and questions on the controversial plans by a Chinese company to construct and operate a mixed donkey and cattle abattoir at Outjo.

Issues already raised by numerous members of the public in Outjo and elsewhere include groundwater and soil contamination, and a business model that has been described as unsustainable as it is based on slaughtering around 70 donkeys every second day in a country that has, according to recent studies, no more than 160 000 of these animals.

“There simply aren't enough donkeys in Namibia to sustain the abattoir more than two-and-a-half to five years, and when it fails, as it will, the Outjo ratepayer will have to foot the bill for environmental clean-up, if it can be cleaned up at all. In the short term, if the donkey supply comes to an end, poaching, which is already threatening many farming existences, will undoubtedly increase,” a member of the public pointed out this week.

Moreover, concerns have been expressed over electricity and water supply.

The site that was cleared for the abattoir before February currently has no water, sewer or power infrastructure, which the Outjo municipality has agreed to provide.

There are concerns about the 120 000 litres of water required for the daily operation of the abattoir, as well as the power supply in a town that is “notorious for weekly supply failures”.

In a background information document (BID) drafted by Quivertree Consulting, the company hired by Fu Hair Trading Enterprise to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the impact of the abattoir, interested parties are invited to share their views and concerns by the end of the month as part of the EIA process.

The document shows that according to Fu Hai Trading Enterprises' latest business plan, which has undergone significant changes since the start of the year, the abattoir aims to slaughter “either 70 donkeys or 100 units of cattle per day”.

According to the plan, the applicants intend to develop a “state-of-the-art export abattoir” that will source cattle from “surrounding commercial farms” and donkeys from northern Namibia.

Fu Hai Trading also undertakes that “only donkeys and cattle sourced from Namibia would be slaughtered”.

Their products will be exported via Walvis Bay to China, and sold locally, the BID states.

The document states that the donkeys will be sourced primarily from the north of Namibia, where 62% of the country's donkeys are, according to the Chinese company. However, no information is provided as to the total number of donkeys in Namibia, on which the percentage is based.

Nevertheless, the EIA will investigate the impact a large-scale donkey slaughterhouse will have on the donkey population in Namibia, the BID states.

According to the latest official population data on donkeys in Namibia, issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in 2014 it was estimated that Namibia had a total population of around 159 000 donkeys.



Tricky export issues

Dr Anja Boshoff-De Witt, manager of meat standards at the Meat Board of Namibia, recently explained that there is no legislation that prohibits operating a multispecies abattoir in Namibia, but pointed out that strict hygiene guidelines and standards would be needed to prevent cross-contamination.

She also explained that currently, no beef is being exported to China because of lumpy skin disease.

“Currently, Namibia cannot export to China as a result of some of the requirements as agreed upon, meaning that the beef produced at this abattoir would probably be used for local consumption only until such time as Namibia can export to China or export agreements with other countries have to be made.”

She explained that the current agreement with China stipulates a 12-month period free from lumpy skin disease, and Namibia has experienced a number of outbreaks in the past year.

Boshoff-De Witt added that the export abattoir would have to be constructed in accordance with standards for beef production and “strict controls would have to be in place in order to assure no cross-contamination of the products”.

She also noted that the current Namibian export agreement with China on beef would apply to the abattoir “but the addition of donkey meat will have to be re-negotiated.”

She said operating an export abattoir according to required standards, regulations and policies is extremely costly.



Operational details

Yesterday, Svenja Garrard of Quivertree Consulting confirmed that the land for the abattoir, which was cleared before the municipality made public its negotiations with the Chinese, will be leased to Fu Hai Trading Enterprise, and not sold as indicated in the BID. She said the error was only discovered after distribution of the document.

In the BID it is stated that Fu Hai Trading Enterprise “is a foreign-owned company that is registered in Namibia”.

The EIA will look at the socio-economic impact of the abattoir, including possible employment creation and poverty eradication benefits, but also at concerns that a donkey abattoir will fuel illegal donkey trade.

Moreover, widespread reports from all corners of the continent have shown that there are serious concerns about animal welfare at Chinese-operated donkey abattoirs. At least six African countries have shut down this trade in recent months due to emerging evidence of severe abuse and neglect.

Other aspects the EIA will address include waste generation, traffic, soil contamination, air quality, and visual, noise and ecological impacts.

Meanwhile, Fu Hai Trading has engaged Burmeister and Partners to complete the facility and process design.

Animal welfare and meat hygiene issues will be addressed by Food Chain Solutions Namibia.

JANA-MARI SMITH