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PRESS RELEASE

Today, the groups released letters showing that in 1996 Mozambique authorised the import of hazardous wastes into Mozambique from foreign sources. The letters have been issued by the current Minister of Environment, Minister of Finance and the Mozambique Centre for Investment Promotion - and are in contrast to the assurances which has been given by the Danish Development Minister, Poul Nielson to NGO's concerned with toxic waste trade.

The waste trade authorisation by the Mozambique government is in direct violation of the Lome IV Convention treaty (Article 39) signed between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, (including Mozambique and Denmark) which forbids Mozambique from importing hazardous wastes. It is also in contradiction to the Bamako convention on the ban of the import of hazardous wastes into Africa as well as the Basel ConventionÆs international ban on the export of hazardous wastes from rich to poor countries which was championed by Denmark.

While Development Minister Poul Nielson claims that Danida has assurances from Mozambique that the cement kiln will never be used for imported hazardous wastes and that international law forbids it, Denmark appears unaware that such an illegal agreement already has been signed by the current Mozambique Ministers of Environment and Finance. In addition, Denmark appears willing to proceed with the project regardless that it has no way of knowing how much hazardous waste has already been imported into Mozambique by international waste traffickers and whether the authorisation for imported hazardous wastes has ever been legally voided.

"Unfortunately, this displays willingness of the Mozambican government to ignore international law in order to profit from hazardous waste importation." said Jacob Hartmann of Greenpeace. "Denmark cannot continue to keep its head in the sand on this issue. Denmark took the lead in pressing for an international waste trade BAN within the Basel Convention and now it appears we are willing to facilitate dirty waste trade disposal by giving away Danish technology" he said.

The coalition of environmental organisations has tried in vain for several months to alert Development Minister Poul Nielson to their concerns that the incinerator and waste station are unnecessary, highly polluting, and would be a likely magnet for international hazardous waste traffickers.

Burning toxic wastes in cement kilns is known to create very dangerous cancer causing compounds known as dioxins and furans. Minister Nielson however has been adamant about forging ahead with the project, even asking for and receiving additional funds from the Finance Committee of the Danish Parliament, while refusing to explore alternatives such as export of the obsolete pesticides to Europe and less polluting non-combustion chemical detoxification options.

"Against all reason, Development Minister Nielson has absolutely refused to entertain less risky options," said Bobby Peek from the Environmental Justice Networking Forum based in South Africa. "While we all want to safely rid Mozambique of obsolete pesticides, this laudable goal has been used as an excuse for hasty establishment of waste attracting and polluting Danish technology and a waste station which could very possibly end up receiving hazardous wastes from Europe or North America," he said.

Getting little satisfaction from the exchange of letters and hearing that the incineration equipment had already been shipped to Mozambique, the members of the coalition decided to bring their complaint directly from Maputo to Copenhagen by having Aurelio Gomes from the local action group of impacted residents - LIVANINGO (meaning to shed light) - present in today's press conference.

Last week a DANIDA-board visiting Mozambique refused meeting with LIVANINGO representatives. "This won't prevent us from voicing our concerns, therefore we've come to Copenhagen today to provide the Danish government with information to justify the immediate halt and rethinking," said Aurelio Gomes.

LIVANINGO is concerned that Denmark failed to inform them about the toxic waste disposal project and the risks involved. Until they were informed by visiting Chemistry Professor Dr. Paul Connett of St. Lawrence University who warned about the dangers of the project, the local population had no idea about the Danish/Mozambique deal, nor of the risks involved.

"Livaningo clearly states that the removal of obsolete pesticides is a priority and an urgent need in Mozambique, but we have concerns about the disposal process", said Aurelio Gomes.

LIVANINGO fully agrees that the phases 1 & 2 regarding collection & decontamination of sites should be implemented, but the option of destroying the pesticides by incineration, must be re-thought.

LIVANINGO is also concerned about the appropriateness of employing Waste Tech Ltd, given the ongoing investigation into their possible human rights abuses and legal investigations by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in South Africa, the appropriateness of burning toxic waste in the middle of the two biggest population agglomerates and the fact\ that the cement kiln factory management, owned by Cimpor, based in Portugal, does not offer any credibility and security guarantees, taking into account the actual record for workers safety.

There is also concern that the present storage site (depot) has soil and possibly water table contamination, and the fact that no decontamination has been done. This can probably be the mirror of the work done on other sites more remote from Maputo and we ask to redesign the project to ensure that all sites are left uncontaminated, at least as defined and required in Danish law. Besides this, there are concerns around security at the storage facility. At this moment any resident can get these toxic containers for water storage or any other proposes.

Finally there is a lack of worker conditions at the storage site, with little protective clothing and equipment in the daily working tasks for the workers.

"We want to receive the proper respect due to the civil society pending a fair and transparent process that we are part of and can live with" said Aurelio Gomes and - as one of the community leaders said - "this project is, among other things, about health of the poorest, and when my health is being played, there are no compromise at all".

Jacob Hartmann,
Greenpeace Denmark and Aurelio Gomes,
Livaningo, Mozambique (currently in Denmark)
Phone: +45 40554144,
+45 33213090(priv),
+45 33938660 Fax: +45 33935399

Bobby Peek,
Environmental Justice Networking Forum South Africa (currently in Denmark)
+45 39174000 or +45 35361111.

Jim Puckett,
Basel Action Network Secretariat,
ph/fax. +1 206 720 6426

Marcelo Furtado,
Greenpeace International,
Phone: +55 1130612934
Fax: +55 112825500

For copies of the letters already sent to Minister Poul Nielson or a copy of the Lome IV Convention waste trade ban other background information please visit the Library Section of the BAN website:

http://www.ban.org.

For copies of former press releases see Greenpeace Website (Toxics Section): http://www.greenpeace.org.

Pictures available with Jacob Hartmann, Greenpeace-Denmark +45 33938660