South Africa holds a significant responsibility in managing environmental impact, particularly concerning mercury emissions, as the most industrialized country in Africa, this is according to Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
He was speaking at the opening of the 16th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant in Cape Town.
This is the first time the biannual conference is held in South Africa, since its inception 32 years ago.
In hosting the 16th ICMGP in 2024, South Africa becomes the first African country to host this unique conference that only focuses on one element.
Research presented at previous conferences was instrumental in countries becoming signatories to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effect of mercury pollution.
Due to South Africa’s primary reliance on coal for energy generation, there is international interest in the country’s mercury emissions.
Research conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the negotiations of the Minamata Convention highlighted that South Africa is a major emitter of mercury on the African continent.
Singh said the DFFE leads efforts to manage mercury in an environmentally sound manner as the Minamata Convention focal point.
“South Africa signed the Minamata Convention in 2023, demonstrating commitment to its objectives after developing the Minamata Initial Assessment and National Implementation Plan.”
He said draft regulations on Mercury to ban mercury mining, restrict mercury-containing products, and control imports/exports have been published for stakeholder input and will soon be tabled in parliament.
He also said the public healthcare sector achieved a 67.7% reduction in dental amalgam use and significant reduction in mercury thermometers, while the private sector fully transitioned to mercury-free alternatives.
China is the world’s largest producer of mercury.
Picture: Supplied