Industries in Bahrain urged to cut pollution levels voluntarily

Industries in Bahrain were urged to work voluntarily to create an environment free of pollution. The call came from the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife director-general Professor Dr Ismail Al Madani.
He was speaking at the opening of the Fourth Speciality Conference on Environmental Progress in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries.

Some industries are willing to pollute the environment as long as it takes, until a law is issued and enforced on them, said Dr Al Madani.
"The industrial sector should work harder to change the attitude of people and contribute significantly on a voluntary basis towards achieving the ultimate goal of sustainable development," he said.

Environmental experts from around the world are attending the three-day event at the Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gulf Hotel. It is being held under the patronage of Southern Governor and Public Commission for Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. It has been organised by the Saudi Arabian Section of the Air & Waste Management Association in collaboration with the Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE).
The opening session was also addressed by Saudi Aramco engineering services vice-president Abdulrahman Al Wubaib, Air and Waste Management Association (US) president Dr Joseph Martone, BSE president Mohammed Khalil Al Sayed and conference chairman Ahmed Al Sa'adi. The ceremony was attended by Industry Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro, top government officials and CEOs of national companies.

Industrial pollution has been the main cause behind many disasters that killed thousands of people around the world, said Dr Al Madani.
"Industries all over the world have to change their image and alter the attitude and impression that a lot of people hold about the adverse impacts that the industries have in degrading our environment and deteriorating the quality of our life," he noted.

Dr Al Madani recalled his meeting with one of the executives of a major industry in Bahrain a few years ago. "I asked him why his industry is not treating and controlling the emissions," he added. "His reply was that there was no legislations to regulate their operations and activities. This shows that some industries are willing to pollute the environment as long as it takes, until a law is issued and enforced on them."
Dr Al Madani appealed to the industries, especially government-owned ones, to adapt the responsible care as a voluntary tool to industrial management.