Top: An elevated view of a trio of mill effluent ponds an independent environmental audit found GVL does not take proper care of, sending foul odor across the landscape. The DayLight/ Derick Snyder

By Esau J. Farr

• Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) improperly manages its wastes, causing water pollution, according to a recent environmental audit of its palm oil mill

• Water contains an illegal level of phosphate, a chemical whose high concentration can lead to kidney diseases

• The odor from palm waste and dust from speedy trucks pollute communities  
• Poor working environment puts workers at risk, including inadequate safety gear, expired fire extinguishers, and poor storage of chemical  

MONROVIA – A palm oil mill operated by Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) in Sinoe County led to a pattern of pollution, violating the company’s environmental permit, an independent audit report found.  

The periodic audit by the Monrovia-based auditor Green Consultancy Inc. revealed mill wastes were improperly managed, the facility pollutes water sources, and it causes air pollution for adjacent communities.  

“GVL is not in full compliance with some of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit conditions and specifications,” the report said. These include not submitting quarterly and biannual environmental monitoring reports since the issuance of the Permit.” 

The findings mean GVL has violated the terms of its permit, a possible cause for revocation of the document, and the Environmental Protection and Management Law, a ground for punishment. The DayLight has reached out to the EPA concerning enforcement of the polluter-pays principle of the law.

The report is another chapter in GVL’s notoriety after it desecrated a sacred hill to construct the mill and encroached on local communities’ land to develop its plantation in 2013. GVL had signed a US$1.6 billion concession agreement with the Liberian government in 2010 for 65 years – covering 220,000 hectares in Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Kru, River Cess and River Gee.

GVL did not immediately respond to queries for comments on the report. However, the water quality test contradicts a recent GVL press release that the audit “did not identify any issues.”

‘Improper’ waste management

GVL performed poorest in managing chemicals and wastes from the mill, which produces 40 metric tons of crude palm oil per hour. The company abused wetlands and piled palm husks in open fields, risking a chemical-laced runoff into nearby watercourses, the report said.

Citing results of water quality tests from the University of Liberia Civil Engineering Laboratory, uncovered an illegal phosphate level. The chemical, found in palm husks, causes kidney disease in people and kills aquatic species, scientists say. Waterways around the mill were unclear, contained many undissolved particles, and had other issues.

‘Unbearable’ odor

GVL uses effluent from the palm oil milling process as fertilizer. The wastewater is treated with chemicals, stored in three large ponds and applied to the land as fertilizer. Palm husks serve the same purpose.

This technology is commonplace worldwide across the oil palm industry as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. However, among other noncompliance, GVL did not even barricade the ponds with caution tape to prevent trespassers. The ability of the wastewater to decompose substances was above the approved level due to irregular testing before application.

This, the audit revealed, can lead to the release of harmful gas, which oozes an “unbearable” odor. “The current level of [palm oil mill effluent] reported is likely to generate large quantities of methane gas that has ozone-depleting potential and is associated with health consequences,” the report said.

It added that GVL had not improved on that aspect of its operation since the last audit in 2019. (Depletion of the ozone layer, which protects the earth from the invisible sun-ray, causes global warming and then climate change.)  

Auditors heard complaints of speedy and uncovered GVL trucks carrying palm nuts and husks spreading dust and an “undesirable” odor in local communities. The report documented that GVL had retrogressed in handling such complaints. This finding further contradicts GVL’s claim in the press release to guarantee the investigation and address all communities’ grievances.

“The quarterly and biannual monitoring of the air quality to ensure acceptable standards as required by the Environmental Protection Agency are not being met,” the report said.

Substandard Safety Gear

GVL’s workplace was unsafe, according to the report.

Workers did not wear proper safety gear or personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with EPA standards.  In fact, GVL did not employ health and safety staff at the mill, and there was no training for staff.

Most of the fire extinguishers at the mill had expired, with noise above the approved level, wastewater spillage and clogged drainage at the facility.

“Ensure that workers are trained in environmental responsibility as well as operating and maintenance procedures of the mill, spill response, managing drains, etc.,” the report urged GVL.  

“Certificates should be issued to trainees after the process.”

Auditors observed barrels of hydrochloric acid—used to dissolve wastes from the mill but dangerous to humans—were exposed to workers at a treatment plant.

“No caution [tips] alerting movement of workers on floor tiles, improper maintenance (untidiness) of the facility, and caution signs not properly defined,” the report said.

CORRECTION: This version of the story corrects the production rate of the mill from 40 metric tons of crude palm oil to 40 metric tons of fresh fruit bunches. Also, the noise at the mill was not above the approved level as initially reported. The noise was “generally within WHO permissible limits,” according to the report.

Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) provided funding for this story. The DayLight maintained editorial independence over the story’s content.