Roqueñí emphasizes the high impact of any measure to improve air quality
The Port Authority of Gijón has established a working group for improving air quality at the El Musel port in Gijón, which includes companies holding an APCA authorization (Potentially Contaminating Activities of the Atmosphere) due to their activity in handling solid bulk materials.
During the meeting, the President of the Port Authority of Gijón, Nieves Roqueñí, accompanied by the Port Director, José Luis Barettino, and the heads of Ecological Transition, Mónica Arenales; Port Community, Miguel Vallina; Operations, Alejandro Coto; and Security, Pablo Cabrifosse, communicated the initiatives being implemented by the port to improve air quality.
According to a press release from the port entity, the main lines of the new action protocol for preventing air pollution during episodes of strong winds, being developed by the Port Authority, were presented.
This text is aimed at operators of solid bulk materials and the Port Authority itself, with the goal of establishing actions to be taken when winds are capable of mobilizing, transporting, and resuspending solid dust particles from the handling, transport, and storage of bulk materials at various docks, storage areas, and traffic zones of the Port of Gijón.
The port of Gijón states that these particles increase the risk of occasional increases in air pollution.
It is also expected that the protocol will be activated at level I when, based on a forecast of winds exceeding 50 kilometers per hour, there is a perceived risk of increased atmospheric pollution episodes.
In this case, various measures will be implemented by both the Port Authority and operators to reduce contaminating particles.
Representatives from Alvargonzález, Bergé, Comercial Asturiana de Graneles, Consignaciones Asturianas, EBHI, Energy Fuel Hormigones Nalón, Lissan Coal, Marprin, Tudela Veguín, and TYC la Mata participated in the establishment of the working group.
«The commitment to continuous improvement of air quality is a strategic goal for the port; hence the interest in involving all port operators,» stated Roqueñí.
«It is worth noting that Gijón is the main solid bulk port in Spain, with a traffic volume in 2024 exceeding 12 million tons,» she added, emphasizing that the implementation of any measure to improve air quality will have a «significant» impact.