The coronavirus-induced smell of clean air could boost platinum

south Africans may not have enjoyed their personal liberty becoming subject to government diktat, but at least the air smells sweeter.

One consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown has been a reduction in national pollution. Nitrogen dioxide levels fell 23% on the Highveld between 27 March and 20 April, according to satellite imaging studies produced by the Pretoria-based research institute the CSIR.

The phenomena of reduced emissions have been a global consequence of less cars on the road, less factories,. “So once the current emergency has passed and we start to recover, our challenge will be to eradicate air pollution permanently,” he said.