SteelAsia Manufacturing reported that it was instructed by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to take control of 23 cargo containers purportedly containing radioactive zinc dust. These containers, rejected by Indonesia, have been linked to the company, which insists it is not the source of the materials. In a statement released on October 25, SteelAsia noted that it received an order to entomb the containers at its recycling facility in Calaca, located in Batangas province.
The company expressed concern over the implications of this order, suggesting it could pose risks to the local community and businesses in the industrial area if there is indeed a radiation threat. The Philippine government announced an investigation into the origin of a shipment sent to Indonesia, which contained zinc powder tainted with the radioactive isotope cesium-137.
The shipment was reportedly dispatched by Zannwann International Trading, a trading firm based in China with operations in the Philippines. Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that the Philippines is scrutinizing steel processing facilities that may have supplied the contaminated zinc dust to Zannwann.
On October 26, Carlo Arcilla, the head of PNRI, confirmed to Bloomberg News that SteelAsia and another company were identified as sources of the zinc dust found in the containers. He stated that products from SteelAsia displayed “radioactivity,” while the other company”s products did not.
SteelAsia”s Chief Operating Officer, Rafael Hidalgo, contested this assertion, stating that PNRI informed them in a letter dated October 21 that tests conducted earlier in October indicated the presence of cesium-137 at their plant. “But we will contest that,” Hidalgo stated during a phone conversation with Bloomberg on October 25, urging PNRI to release relevant data concerning its findings.
As of now, Zannwann has not provided any comments regarding this situation. An earlier investigation in Indonesia unearthed cesium-137 at a metal processing site that supplies materials for construction and manufacturing in a western Java industrial park. Following this discovery, Indonesia suspended imports of scrap metal in October.
Cesium-137 is a man-made radionuclide commonly used in medical devices and gauges. It is also produced as a by-product of nuclear fission processes in reactors and nuclear weapons testing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to this isotope can increase cancer risk.
SteelAsia affirmed that its steel production process neither utilizes nor generates radioactive materials and clarified that it does not manufacture or export zinc dust, which is not a by-product of its operations. Additionally, the company noted that it lacks the technical capabilities, facilities, or training to manage radioactive waste if any were detected in the containers. SteelAsia emphasized that all scrap metals acquired for melting and production undergo testing for radioactivity, and none have ever tested positive. The company also mentioned that its radiation monitoring equipment is regularly calibrated under the supervision of PNRI.
In response to the situation, Arcilla from PNRI disagreed with SteelAsia”s claims, asserting that there is indeed “radioactivity within their property” based on PNRI”s tests. However, neither SteelAsia nor PNRI has provided documentation to support their respective positions.
Out of an abundance of caution, SteelAsia announced a voluntary suspension of operations at its recycling plant, while maintaining that it does not concede to the presence of any radioactive materials within the facility. A committee comprising various Philippine government agencies, including those responsible for interior and local government, environment, defense, and health, is currently investigating the matter.
