Steelasia Manufacturing Corporation has denied its connection to 23 containers of hazardous zinc dust allegedly exported by Zanwan International Trading Corporation.
In a statement sent over the weekend, the company said it strongly rejects the order by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) for SteelAsia to take possession of the containers, saying it “has no connection with these materials.”
“The containers were rejected by Indonesia in late September and ordered to be returned to Zainwan,” said SteelAsia, which sources zinc dust from various steel producers for export.
“However, without following international nuclear safety protocols or conducting the necessary scientific testing, the PNRI tagged SteelAsia as the source of the alleged radioactive material, absolving Zainwan of responsibility,” it said.
According to SteelAsia, PNRI has ordered the company to bury the containers at its plant in Calaca, Batangas.
SteelAsia said it “has no technical capacity, facilities or training to handle radioactive waste,” adding that PNRI is the only legally mandated agency to perform such a task.
,[S]Teal Manufacturing does not use radioactive material and therefore does not produce it. The company manufactures and exports reinforced steel bars, not zinc dust, which is merely a by-product of its production process.”
It said PNRI data showed that Zainwan had also purchased zinc dust from other steel companies, “yet only SteelAsia is being unfairly singled out by PNRI despite the absence of any scientific or factual basis.”
The company said the PNRI's alleged findings were used as the basis for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to order SteelAsia to cease operations of its Calaca scrap recycling plant.
Prior to the DILG order, the company said it voluntarily suspended operations at the Calaca Scrap Recycling Plant out of an abundance of caution, without acknowledging the presence of any radioactive material at the facility.
“The company is taking legal steps to protect its interests and continues to pursue all remedies available under law,” the company said.
It said, “PNRI's illegal, baseless and unscientific actions will cause irreparable damage to the entire Calaca industrial sector, resulting in economic dislocation, loss of thousands of jobs and stunting the progress of Calaca.”
It also said it planned to involve international experts from Japan and Western countries to help deal with the situation. – Justin Irish D. Tabile
