Brunet Enterprise unaware of water protection regulations

February 2, 2026 10:15 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Compiled by Anita Roberts.

Brunet Enterprise Générale said that if it had been informed of the water protection regulations earlier, it would not have installed its asphalt equipment at Zone 3 of the Matnakara Water Protection Zone.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Pierre-Henri Brunet, said Regulation Order No. 117 of 2019, which restricts hazardous activities in water protection zones, was never actively communicated to affected businesses.

“There was no awareness campaign, no direct notification, and no engagement with operators working in the area. Even the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DoEPC) itself was not fully aware of the detailed scope of this regulation, which clearly demonstrates a failure of internal government communication and public awareness,” he said.

“Had we been informed of these restrictions earlier, the equipment would never have been installed in that location, despite the fact that it posed no pollution risk whatsoever.”

The CEO was responding to a recent article published in the Vanuatu Daily Postabout the company being ordered by the government, through the Department of Water Resources (DoWR), to stop operations and relocate due to environmental concerns, risks to Port Vila’s drinking water source, and non-compliance.

Mr. Brunet said the company had formally consulted the DoEPC, informing it that the installation would be temporary, lasting only a few months to complete contractual roadworks between Tagabe Roundabout and Klems Hill.

“This temporary installation was known to the DoEPC, and operations were conducted responsibly, without incident. At no point in time were we advised to also inform the DoWR,” he said.

In its response, the DoEPC said that if the company had applied for a permit, it would have provided guidance on operating at the site. However, the department alleged that despite multiple attempts to get the company to apply for a permit, it never did.

The DoWR said the company’s response was merely an excuse for negligence and stubbornness. As a business or developer, Brunet Enterprise is required to understand and comply with Vanuatu laws, the department said.

Residents are aware that the site is a protected zone, as awareness campaigns were carried out before the regulation was enforced, according to the DoWR.

Currently, there is no confirmation of water contamination, but the risk remains if the activities are not relocated, the department said.

The company was given until yesterday to relocate or face penalties.

CEO Brunet conveyed that relocation has already commenced.

He mentioned earlier in his statement that no asphalt plant was ever installed at the site.

“What was temporarily placed on site was a bitumen drum melter, consisting of two mobile containers, designed to melt bitumen delivered in sealed 200-litre drums for road patching works. This equipment operates in a closed system, does not involve mixing aggregates, produces no wastewater, and does not discharge liquid pollutants into the ground. Bitumen is a highly viscous product, not a free-flowing liquid, and any minor drips caused by damaged transport drums are immediately contained, collected, and cleaned,” he explained.

He said that if the authorities had contacted the company directly, the issue could have been resolved quietly and responsibly, without damaging public trust or creating false alarm.

“This matter was mishandled. There was no pollution, no intent to pollute, and no environmental damage. There was, however, a serious failure of communication, proportion, and judgment — and unfortunately, the cost has been borne by our reputation,” he added.

“For decades, our group has demonstrated genuine environmental commitment: we implemented wastewater treatment systems on waterfront developments long before they were mandatory; we operate the country’s only large-scale organic, pesticide-free beef production; and all our developments are guided by sustainability principles. To portray us as careless polluters is not only false — it is the exact opposite of who we are.”