Senegal 
Used cars pollute Dakar's air

Misanet.com / IPS, 21 January - In the past several years, Senegal has become a major importer of used cars from Europe, cars which are causing environmental problems in Dakar, the capital city. The used cars, which come from Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, represent 84 percent of all such vehicles in the Dakar region. 

At the end of November 2000, the Department of Motor Vehicles, which oversees automobile registrations, said that of the 100,500 cars that are on the streets of the capital city, 84,420 were used and 16,080 were new.

Polluting cars were always a problem here, but the situation has worsened since 1996, when the laws governing the import of used cars were liberalised. The Ministry of Transportation the vehicles on the streets are extremely old. The average age of light vehicles in Dakar is estimated to be 15 years. The average age for buses, known locally as "rapid buses", is 20 years.

Furthermore, more than 40 percent of used cars have diesel engines, which emit toxic gases. "This situation is in part explained by the high cost of gasoline, and in addition, by the fact that almost all imported used cars have diesel engines," said Abdourahmane Ndiaye, an advisor to the Ministry of the Environment. 

The situation has become so worrisome that Transport Minister Madieyna Diouf, has described the importation of used cars as "massive and uncontrolled" and has taken the issue up before the National Assembly. 

Importers say the government ministries do not know what they are talking about. "These are unfounded accusations. Not all imported cars have diesel engines," stated Mamadou Ndongo, an importer. "The real problem", he added, "is that many people replace their car motors with diesel engines. They do so because diesel fuel is less expensive than gasoline." 

Moussa Ndiaye, another used car merchant whose lot is located at one of Dakar's major crossroads, blames the government. "If Dakar is polluted, it's because the government does nothing to curtail it. Look how they're handling it in Gambia!" 

- Over there, the worst thing you can do is to have a car which smokes. The police don't kid around with motorists over there. Your car will be towed away to the pound, if they catch you, he maintained. 

The Ministry for the Environment and the Protection of Nature, says it knows about the terrible air pollution created by Senegal's ageing automobile fleet. "This is a terrible situation, particularly since it causes serious harm. We're aware of the health risks it poses, but we have no legal means to stop the import of used cars or prevent them from being operated," said Ndiaye of the Environment Ministry. "We cannot give our point of view on the issue because we're not allowed to by law." 

The ministry has come up with a bill for a new environmental code, which gives it the authority to fight against the pollution problem. The new code will soon be submitted to parliament for approval. "With this code, cars that pollute are going to have to pay for it," Ndiaye said.

Already approved by the Cabinet, the bill provides the heavy artillery to battle against air pollution. It provides new clean air standards which will limit pollution, particularly as it pertains to vehicular traffic. 

And to reinstate order in the used car industry, the code re-introduces the requirement that a particular car has to be requested by a customer prior to its importation, a measure abolished in 1996. In addition, imported cars cannot be older than five years old. 

- We are going to improve our equipment at the department of motor vehicles so we'll be able to sort out the cars likely to be big polluters," the ministry official promised. 

Air quality control stations also will be installed around Dakar, to give a daily reading on the health of the air around the Senegalese capital. To enforce the new code, the ministry plans to set up an environmental police force, which will be backed up by the country's police force. One of their principal missions will be to track down polluting vehicles. 

By Amadou Sakho, IPS

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