A Comparison between Point Source Air Emissions Limits in South Africa and Botswana

At the end of 2019, the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) released the standard titled “Air Emissions from Stationary Sources”. This standard specifies air emissions limits for stationary sources, and is applicable to any facility, site or premises whose activities result in air pollution, but not to residential premises, or to mobile sources.

The standard is similar to the South African air quality Listed Activities legislation with regards to the emissions monitoring methods, the conditions at which emissions are required to be reported, and the emissions limits themselves. We do, however, have a number of questions that pertain to the standard, most notably: the legal status of the standard, the lack of oxygen references for combustion activities, and other anomalies such as the omission and repetition of some pollutants. Yellow Tree has made contact with the Botswanan Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control and hopes to receive answers to these questions.

We have created a 33min video that explores the new Botswanan Air Quality Legislation in depth, and we are so excited to share this educational video with you! It will reinforce your knowledge of the industries that are regulated in South Africa, explain the concept of oxygen normalization with formulae, and inform you of the developing air quality legislation in Botswana. Please write notes as you watch!