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Finnish Mining Boom Prompts Regulation Backlash on Polluters

Richard — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:49:48 +0000

A UK mining company, Talvivaara Mining Co, has been charged with allowing unacceptably high toxic emissions from a mine in central Finland.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11715.

Vedanta charges ahead in India

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:15:34 +0000

London-listed Vedanta Resources has yet again fallen foul of Indian law. Its Sesa Goa subsidiary is finally to be prosecuted for alleged fraud connected with iron ore trading. Meanwhile, residents in Goa itself accuse Vedanta of seeking to build a new pig iron smelter under the guise of expanding an existing, highly polluting, plant.

Yet another group of government workers has taken umbrage at the prospect of a deal with Vedanta – this time in Orissa. Last month, staff at child nutrition centres in Karnataka revolted against a move to place the UK company in charge of a government feeding programme. Now, employees at state-run Nalco are protesting against the prospective sale of their alumina to Vedanta’s Jharsaguda smelter. The workers maintain that Nalco “will not only lose precious foreign exchange leading to fall in its profit, it would also pave the way for Nalco’s privatisation. We will not allow this to happen”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11674.

See also Vedanta pollution: 22 died of TB in a village, allege tribals, http://www.cgnetswara.org/index.php?id=10774.

Indigenous and Afro-Colombians of Jiguamiandó – Rights are Upheld

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:06:42 +0000

The Colombian Constitutional Court has once again reaffirmed the suspension order made on Muriel Mining Corporation’s Mandé Norte Project in Chocó. Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining corporations (and registered on the London Stock Exchange), has an 80% option on exploitation and has been the major contributor to bankrolling the exploration phase of the Mandé Norte Mining Project.

See http://www.abcolombia.org.uk/subpage.asp?subid=463&mainid=23.

Chilean Supreme Court Red Lights Goldcorp Mine

Richard — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:54:28 +0000

Indigenous community leader celebrates ruling, promises continued opposition

The Chilean Supreme Court has ratified a lower court ruling that rendered Goldcorp’s environmental assessment for the El Morro mine null, due to irregularities including the company’s failure to properly consult with the Diaguita Huascoaltinos Indigenous and Agricultural Community, whose lands would be destroyed if the mine is built.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11676.

Goldcorp is a Canadian company with British investment. Among Goldcorp’s major investors are British-based AXA Investment Managers UK Ltd., Blackrock Commodities Income Trust plc and City Natural High Yield Trust plc.

Vedanta casts more oil on troubled Indian waters

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:13:18 +0000

Ever since its triumphant listing on the London Stock Exchange in December 2003, Vedanta Resources has moved several big steps forward, yet suffered several setbacks at the same time.

Last month, the company announced it was exploring for iron ore in Liberia. This came just as a court challenge was made to Vedanta’s take-over of Cairn India, which granted the UK outfit access to the country’s most prospective oil field.

Vedanta has also just taken control of a major child nutrition programme in Karnataka, despite accusations that the move is illegal. It’s also been vigorously contested by the very workers responsible for the scheme.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11659.

BP, Dow Chemical Sponsoring the “Greenest Ever” Olympics, and UK Enviros Aren’t Having It

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:11:39 +0000

Ever since the fleet-footed runners and chariot races of ancient Greece, ethics have been at the root of the Olympic games. There’s an Olympic oath, creed, and hymn. And then there’s the torch, which has come to represent purity or goodwill, depending on who you ask.

So, in the spirit of Olympic integrity, London—which will host the summer Olympics this July—has promised to prepare for its games with an eye towards environmentalism, making London 2012 “the greenest Games ever.” Just one problem: three of the Olympics’ official sponsors—BP, Dow Chemical, and Rio Tinto—are all currently embroiled in lawsuits over alleged commission of large-scale environmental harms.

See http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/04/green-olympics-london-2012-bp-dow-greenwash?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+motherjones/TheBlueMarble+%2528Mother+Jones+%7c+The+Blue+Marble%2529.

Aboriginal elder loses bid to overturn expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:01:15 +0000

An Australian Aboriginal elder has lost his challenge to the federal government’s approval of expansion of the world’s biggest uranium mine. Kevin Buzzacott had argued that insufficient consideration had been paid to the operation’s long-term impacts and risks posed by storage of radioactive wastes.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11658.

Newmont Mining accused of multiple failures by shareholders

Richard — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:31:46 +0000

Critical shareholders took the world’s second biggest dedicated gold producer to task at its annual general meeting last week. They claimed the company had not implemented various promises to be “socially responsible”. Moreover, its failure to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of affected communities in Peru and elsewhere, had “turned into a reputational and financial liability for the company”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11657.

Newmont is a US company with British investment: among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK.

See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

See also: Scientist calls Conga mining project an ‘environmental disaster’, http://upsidedownworld.org/main/peru-archives-76/3608-scientist-calls-peru-conga-mining-project-an-environmental-disaster-interview-with-reinhard-seifert.

BHP Billiton’s move against Aboriginal elder ‘punitive and vindictive’

Richard — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:22:55 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR FREE ALLIANCE

1st May 2012

DEMOCRACY AT A PRICE: DECISION BY BHP BILLITON AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEEK COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER PUNITIVE AND VINDICTIVE

The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) is deeply concerned by the decision of BHP Billiton and the Federal Government to seek costs from Arabunna elder uncle Kevin Buzzacott arising from his challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion.

“ANFA members fully support Uncle Kevin and admire his stand for country. We know that history will be the fairest judge of this struggle. BHP and the minister who approved the expansion of Olympic Dam will be forever linked to the toxic legacy of this mine, for thousands of years to come,” said Larrakia woman Donna Jackson, co-chair of ANFA.

“The court decided that Kevin Buzzacott had standing to pursue this challenge, as is his right under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act,” said ANFA Committe member Nectaria Calan. “Where does this leave the right to judicial review of such projects if those who seek such a review are then punished with costs?”

Dean Della Vale, president of BHP’s Uranium Customer Sector Group which is responsible for the Olympic Dam project, is a founding member of the Australian Uranium Associations Indigenous Dialogue Group, established to facilitate dialogue with traditional owners.

“BHP pursuing costs undermines any claims by the Indigenous Dialogue Group that they are seeking to engage with aboriginal communities in good faith. Aboriginal communities do not have the right to say no to mining on their land, and here we have an elder using one of the few legal options available to them to ensure that at least the impacts of the project were properly considered, and they may be facing a massive bill for doing so,” said Ms Calan.

“The message BHP are sending is that there are repercussions for taking on the mining giant. Last financial year the company recorded a total net profit of US$23. 95 billion – they certainly don’t need the money,” Ms Calan concluded.

For comment contact:

Donna Jackson + 61 427 847 186

Legal commentary: Nectaria Calan + 61 432 388 665

For background, see http://londonminingnetwork.org/2012/04/bhp-billiton-wants-money-from-aboriginal-elder/.

Once more into the breach – Vedanta

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:59:46 +0000

UK company brazenly flouted construction rules

Two and a half years ago, Vedanta’s BALCO subsidiary was accused of illegally constructing a coal-fired power plant whose chimney collapsed, killing at least forty two workers in the Indian township of Korba, Chhattisgarh. Critics claim the UK-listed company then proceeded to build a replacement plant without obtaining necessary permits.

Last weekend, these allegations were confirmed by documents obtained under India’s Right to Information Act, leading the mayor of Korba to declare: “We have strongly objected and sought to dismantle the illegal construction in the past. Notices have been issued to Balco repeatedly and stiff fines imposed. Better speak to the police why no action has been taken after the complaints were lodged”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11651.

Indian minister halts fresh Vedanta bid to mine Niyamgiri

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:58:03 +0000

India’s environment minister has ordered that the proposal by UK-listed Vedanta to expand its Orissa alumina refinery six fold, be held in abeyance.

The decision seems effectively to put the highly-controversial Nyamgiri mine project on indefinite hold.

However, while clearly describing the ruses employed by Vedanta to get both projects officially approved, a regional peoples’ organisation issues a stark warning: “..Vedanta might try all other tricks to accomplish its dirty agenda…[It] might find a back door [by coming] up with a joint venture project with L&T to mine Kutru Mali and Silji Mali near Kashipur to feed its Lanjigarh plant…”

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11646.

Mining giant Glencore accused in child labour and acid dumping row

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:53:44 +0000

Glencore, the commodity and mining firm worth £27bn, stands accused in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of dumping raw acid and profiting from children working 150ft underground. The revelations come as the notoriously secretive Swiss-based company, which floated on the London Stock Exchange last year, seeks to merge with mining firm Xstrata in a £50bn-plus deal.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11640.

Churchill seeks $2bn from Indonesia over coal dispute

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:49:36 +0000

London-listed Churchill Mining plc has been in bitter dispute with Indonesian authorities over control of one of the country’s largest coal deposits. Now, the company is threatening to resort to international arbitration.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11633.…
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Peru’s Highest Court Sides With Central Government In Conga Case

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:47:02 +0000

Peru’s highest court has declared that the left-wing regional government of Cajamarca overstepped its bounds when it recently rejected the country’s biggest proposed mining project. However, a team of environmental auditors has criticised the existing mine plan, while Peru’s president has also acknowledged the need for Newmont to revise its proposals.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11643.

Newmont is a US company with British investment: among investors in Newmont are UK-based Blackrock World Mining Trust and AXA Investment Managers UK. See http://moneytometal.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&button=&search=newmont.

Indonesian groups condemn court ruling over Newmont’s waste disposal

Richard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:45:22 +0000

Dozens of student demonstrators pelted the office of Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) after a court ruling allowing the US company to continue dumping tailings in a nearby bay. A year ago, several environmental organisations urged the government to ban the practice. They claim it violates the country’s National Strategy and Plan of Action on Biodiversity, drawn up in 2003 by the government and environmental organisations. An appeal against the court ruling is now being planned.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11632.