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BHP’s toxic legacy continues at Ok Tedi

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:24:55 +0000

When BHP Billiton pulled out of the Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea, it was because it recognised that the mine should never have been constructed in the way it was – with riverine talings disposal – in the first place.

But the mine produced such a large proportion of the PNG Government’s income that it was not shut down.

Now OK Tedi Mining Ltd has, once again, had to pay compensation for continuing to pollute the environment at its operations in Papua New Guinea.

Grotesquely, the company has also been given an award by the government for “its contribution to PNG’s development and its compliance with the country’s laws”, as well as being a “Good Corporate Citizen”!

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11390.

Statement by communities affected by mining in La Guajira, Colombia

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:44:43 +0000

A gathering of communities was held in late November and a strong statement isued about the damge done by mining in La Guajira – including by Cerrejon Coal, owned by London-listed Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata.

See http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/10539469/613361253/name/111120+Guajira+communities++statement+-+English+version.pdf.

Colombia’s mining boom overshadowed by human rights violations

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:43:43 +0000

A report by Peace Brigades International (PBI) declares that Colombia’s current mining boom is overshadowed by human rights violations and mass displacement of residents in mining areas. “80% of the human rights violations that have occurred in Colombia in the last ten years were committed in mining and energy-producing regions, and 87% of Colombia’s displaced population originate from these places,” says the report published by the international human rights organisation last week.

Among London-listed mining companies active in Colombia are Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11381&l=1.

Richest Australians see their pickings fall – and mine safety record shames entire industry

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:22:51 +0000

How the mighty have fallen!

According to a recent survey, billions of dollars have been wiped off the bank accounts of Australia’s richest individuals – especially those who profit from the mining industry.

Nonetheless, they’re far from being completely down, Down-Under. Gina Rinehart clings on as Australia’s richest woman (and the richest woman in global mining), despite her personal wealth reducing by around A$1.6 billion over the past six months.

Glencore’s Ivan Glasenberg still has an A$6.6 billion share of the London-listed giant commodities trader/mining company, although it’s fallen in value by over 25% since May.

(Also mentions BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.)

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11365.

Cheap and green energy for miners

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:18:38 +0000

It may seem somewhat audacious for a company with a market value of $16 million to propose a world-leading energy project nearly one hundred times its value. But, says Petratherm managing director Terry Kallis, if you don’t dream, you don’t get. And he just happens to think he’s sitting on a unique opportunity.

Kallis outlined his vision for a $1.5 billion clean energy precinct in the outback of South Australia that would take advantage of the unique combination of geothermal, solar and wind energy resources, the intersection of major gas pipelines, and the proximity of the world’s largest mine and other major developments.

The big opportunity is, of course, to service the massive energy demands of BHP Billiton’s proposed Olympic Dam expansion – which could be more than 700MW at that site alone – as well as other mine proposals or expansions.

See http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/cheap-and-green-energy-miners.

(The Olympic Dam mine is, of course, anything but clean – see http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/u/roxby/BHP%20Alt%20AR%202011%20-%20Dirty%20Energy.pdf.)

Mining companies hold back progress on climate change

Richard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:24:52 +0000

The world’s biggest steel producer, ArcelorMittal, and global miner, BHP Billiton, are among companies “block[ing] progress on climate legislation”, while they “ensure that fossil fuel and nuclear subsidies continue to give unfair advantage to dirty energy”.

So says Greenpeace in a new report, released just prior to the climate change conference being held in Durban this week.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11329&l=1

Energy colonialism in the Congo

Richard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:14:07 +0000

The Congo River embodies an immense amount of energy – enough to supply a significant portion of Africa’s electricity requirements. The river is being touted as a perpetual source of clean, green power that could “light up Africa” and solve many of the continent’s problems.

But if its power is harnessed, who will benefit – the DRC’s millions of poor or a wealthy regional and international elite?

Civil society organisations are worried that ordinary Congolese, only 6% of whom have access to electricity, will remain in the dark, while their river’s power is transmitted to mines and industrial facilities in South Africa, elsewhere in Africa or even Europe, or to power-hungry installations such as a massive aluminium smelter proposed for the coast by BHP Billiton.

See http://www.news24.com/Columnists/AndreasSpath/Energy-colonialism-in-the-Congo-20111130

Cerrejon adopts human rights policy

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:34:36 +0000

Cerrejon Coal, a joint venture of London-listed Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata, has adopted a human rights policy. It remains to be seen how closely the company will live up to it. If it does so, communities around the mine would benefit.

See http://www.cerrejon.com/site/Portals/1/Documents/pdf/policies/Cerrejon-%20Human%20Rights%20Policy.pdf.

For background, see articles at http://londonminingnetwork.org/?s=cerrejon.

If you live in the UK, PLEASE URGE YOUR MP TO SIGN EARLY DAY MOTION 2396 ON CERREJON. See http://londonminingnetwork.org/2011/11/please-urge-your-mp-to-sign-early-day-motion-2396-on-cerrejon-coal/.

Mining and American Indians Still Don’t Mix

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:24:36 +0000

The Native American community has a long, troubled history with mining interests, and today that history is catching up with us in Arizona. From a new push for uranium mining at the Grand Canyon to the ongoing battle over Resolution Copper, it’s not too much to say my home state tribes are under siege.

Resolution Copper has proposed to exchange 4,500 acres of land in northern Arizona for the 3,000 federally owned acres it wants to mine. The land the company wants includes not only Oak Flat Campground, a protected site since 1955, but the nearby Apache Leap area sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Resolution Copper is jointly owned by troubled mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. Both have long been accused of undermining native rights around the world to increase their profit margin. The latter, based in Australia and London, has faced a decade’s worth of especially credible allegations of human rights abuses. Neither cares about the local economy or has shown an interest in Indian sovereignty.

See http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/ict_sbc/mining-and-american-indians-still-dont-mix#ixzz1eI6kN1HV.

Australia’s PM looking to overturn ban on India uranium sales

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:21:35 +0000

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s ruling Labor party will debate lifting the ban on the sales of uranium to India at its conference next month, a decision unlikely to be welcomed by the Greens.

Uranium producers in Australia include BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=139608&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

World’s Biggest Hydropower Scheme Will Leave Africans in the Dark

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:17:43 +0000

South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to build a major hydroelectric power project, which is said to bring electricity to more than half of the continent’s 900 million people. But economic analysts warn that foreign investors will prevent the grid from benefiting the general public.

(One of the companies hoping to benefit from cheap power from the Inga Dam project is BHP Billiton.)

See http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105843.

BHP Billiton – Dirty Energy

Richard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:12:51 +0000

BHP Billiton holds its Australian AGM on Thursday 17 November. A coalition of organisations including London Mining Network has produced an ‘alternative annual report’: BHP Billiton – Dirty Energy.

To read the alternative report, see http://bhpbillitonwatch.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/bhpb_report_sml.pdf.

Please urge your MP to sign Early Day Motion 2396 on Cerrejon Coal

Richard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:40:36 +0000

Jeremy Corbyn MP and others have tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the UK Government to support the demands of communities affected by the Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia, jointly owned by London-listed mining companies Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata.

If you live in the UK, please contact your MP and ask him or her to sign this EDM.

If you do not know how to contact your MP, go to http://www.writetothem.com/.

For the text and signatories, see http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2396.

CERREJÓN COAL COMPANY MINE, COLOMBIA

That this House expresses concern about the devastating social and environmental impacts of the Cerrejn Coal company’s huge opencast coal mine in Colombia, owned in equal parts by London-listed multinationals Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Xstrata; notes with concern that communities forcibly dispersed before these companies bought the mine have yet to receive justice in the form of adequate compensation or community resettlement; further notes with concern that an agreement to reconstruct the evicted community of Tabaco remains unfulfilled and that communities currently facing involuntary resettlement accuse Cerrejn Coal of inefficiency and injustice in its dealings with them; is concerned that the proposed deviation of the River Rancheria, the main river in La Guajira, for mine expansion, will threaten water security for the region; further notes that some of these communities have formed a federation to seek justice from the company; further notes that the President of this federation has sought the support of British parliamentarians and that unionised mineworkers at Cerrejn fully support this federation; and urges the Government to require the London-listed companies involved to ensure that the federation’s demands are accepted in full by Cerrejn Coal.

Australia Passes Landmark Carbon Price Laws

Richard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:07:48 +0000

Australia passed landmark laws last week to impose a price on carbon emissions in one of the biggest economic reforms in a decade and injecting new impetus into December’s global climate talks in South Africa.

Among London-listed mining companies affected are Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/08/us-australia-carbon-idUSTRE7A60PO20111108.

Kloppers urges companies look beyond profits

Richard — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:59:35 +0000

THE chief executive of BHP Billiton, Marius Kloppers, in a call to increase social responsibility in the corporate sector, has urged companies to aim for more than profits. Mr Kloppers said companies needed to include measures such as their level of community acceptance in their approach to value.

See http://www.smh.com.au/business/kloppers-urges-companies-look-beyond-profits-20111025-1mi5l.html#ixzz1cbX2vrty.