Residents across the Blaauwberg area, including Table View, Parklands, Milnerton and as far as Melkbosstrand, voiced concern last week after a large flare lit up the sky above the Astron Energy refinery on Koeberg Road.

Many reported a strong paraffin-like smell lingering in the air, while others complained of burning eyes and irritation.

Social media platforms were flooded with questions and complaints on Wednesday evening (3 June) and Thursday morning (4 June) as residents sought answers about the visible flare and accompanying odour.

Strong smell across the area

While the flare was clearly visible from several suburbs, many residents said it was the smell that caused the greatest concern.

Several residents claimed the odour drifted across large parts of the West Coast and Blaauwberg region overnight, with some reporting headaches, sore throats and eye irritation.

Others living closer to the refinery said noise and emissions from the facility have been a long-standing concern.

Astron explains incident

In a statement on Wednesday 3 June, Astron Energy said: “The refinery experienced a process unit upset, which led to a visible emission from the elevated flare as safety systems activated. As a result, there may be increased noise and visible emissions from the flare as we stabilise the process unit.”

The company apologised for any inconvenience caused and thanked residents for their understanding while normal operations were restored.

Astron further advised residents that queries or complaints could be submitted via SMS.

Ongoing health concerns

For some residents living near the refinery, the incident reignited concerns about potential health impacts.

Residents in surrounding suburbs have previously raised concerns about air quality, noise and emissions from refinery operations.

Some community members said they would like greater transparency regarding incidents that result in visible flaring or unusual odours.

Byron Granger from Table View said: “The smell was incredibly strong when I stepped outside this morning. It smelled like paraffin and my eyes started burning almost immediately.”

David Thompson from Melkbosstrand said: “Even this far away we could smell it. At first we thought there was a fire somewhere nearby because the odour was so strong. The flare was impossible to miss. It lit up the sky and naturally people were worried because we didn’t know what had happened.”

Andre Petersen from Milnerton Ridge said: “We often hear loud noises from the refinery and incidents like this always raise concerns about what residents are being exposed to.”

Michelle Adams from Rugby said: “I woke up with a headache and the smell was still hanging in the air. We would appreciate more communication whenever something like this happens.”

While Astron Energy stressed that the flare resulted from safety systems activating as designed, many residents said they hoped for continued communication from the company regarding the incident and any potential environmental or health impacts. For now, residents will be watching closely as refinery operations return to normal and awaiting further updates from Astron Energy.

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