How simple can it be? It’s a piece of cake for the judges. Last week I was allowed to be a spectator again at a trial of SMOC foundation against the Isla. The whole story is a full academic discussion about the gas emission of the refinery.
The limit is set at 80. Isla thinks it is 79, SMOC foundation states that this limit was also exceeded in 2014 and that calculations show that the emissions are well above 80.
Various committees and institutes have been involved and the story of the truth seems difficult to come to the table. But the judges are very lucky. The Isla has been inoperative for more than six months and the air has been measured. The results can be found on the Internet.
From these data, it now appears clear that all other polluters of the air cause pollution of about 53. For total pollution in 2014, 170 was measured. Even a child can now calculate that the pollution by Isla is around 120. And in any case far above the permissible 80.
The judges will rule on January 29, 2019. I think it could have possibly been much earlier. Of course, you can say that no new evidence may be added.
Here fits the verdict of a wise magistrate: a good judge may consider the reality.
Dick de Roode
