ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

The excessive extraction of minerals for 40 years, in order to answer the needs of the industrialised nations, is the cause of the accumulation of millions of tons of harmful industrial waste. The Gabonese authorities have signed an agreement for their treatment in France. A «first» for that country

During January, after a long process, Gabon managed to sign an agreement with France for the transfer and elimination of its waste in France. France’s ambassador in Gabon, Mr. Philippe Selz, said: «France is pleased with the signing of this agreement which aims at helping a friendly country’s environment to become less polluted». A doctor in the gynaecology-obstetrics department of the Franceville Hospital, situated not far from the Mounana mines, explained that the agreement deals exclusively with waste containing PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), lead, cadmium, asbestos and toxic waste products such as those generated by some laboratories, which can cause notably lung diseases and throat cancer.

In a publication entitled: «The Three Pillars of Durability», written under the guidance of Professor Juste Boussienguet, we read: «The exploitation of uranium and manganese began at the beginning of the 1960s, before the first Mining Code became law in 1962. It should be noted that the machinery used in mining dates from the 1960s.

Also, the process used is one that was in operation at a time when ecological preoccupations were deemed secondary. The only exception was the high density uranium factory».  With the support of the European Union, the renovation of the uranium working site by the Franceville mining company was carried out between 1997 and 1999.

However, there’s not much regarding the control of mining activities in Gabon’s national legislation, neither is the care of the environment considered. Hence, foreign companies use their own company rules, or those in use in their own countries, or again, those set out in international legislation.

Gabon’s soil and sub-soil contain considerable riches: Wood, oil, manganese, uranium, iron, niobium, barite, zinc, potassium, phosphate, sulphur, gold, all of which are trump cards in the country’s development but which, unfortunately, have transformed their extraction sites into gigantic refuse heaps, because there’s no legislation governing site maintenance and clearance. NGOs involved in environmental issues, and the government say: «The environment is damaged to the tune of some 20 million CFA francs.»

Anxiety in the villages

The environmental consequences of mineral extraction are obviously felt in mining areas. They affect the principal natural resources and in particular the water flow, the soil, fauna and flora, the countryside, air and the people’s health.

Here’s an example — A young mother experienced great difficulty in having children. Eventually, she gave birth to one boy who is now eight years old. Because of a serious lung disorder, the boy had to leave his village and be treated in a hospital in the capital, Libreville. The mother was in despair. «I won’t be able to have many children like my younger sisters who have gone to live in town!».

The young mother and the boy lived not far from a uranium production site (now closed), a mineral which, when enriched, is highly sought after in the West since it’s part of the fuel used in nuclear power stations. In addition to uranium, manganese is also mined in that region. Pascal Moussadji, the village nurse says: «There’s sadness written over the faces of those men and women living in Gabon’s mining regions, who want larger families and can’t have them, or who just want to start a family. The health services have been alerted as to what’s happening. In every village it’s been noted that the surrounding toxicity, caused by uranium refuse, is responsible for the illnesses suffered by the people in the villages».

In 1980, the Franceville International Centre for Medical Research (CIRMF), an enormous health monitoring establishment, was built in that region. Studies carried out here have shown the reasons behind an extended zone of low fecundity. In fact, during the past few years, low fecundity has been a serious problem for the Gabonese authorities. The CIRMF has an annual budget of roughly 5.5 billion CFA francs (more than $10 million) guaranteed by the government, Gabon Elf (55%), and the French Cooperation for Overseas (10%). The World Health Organisation (WHO)  described the CIRMF as: «A WHO Regional Centre for monitoring questions connected with the reproductive process, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)s and AIDS.»

Illnesses in the radioactive zones

An abnormally high level of pulmonary and epidermic diseases due to the acidity of the surrounding milieu, has been observed in the Mounana mining region. On the other hand, the CIRMF scientists have stated that the accumulation of radioactive waste is the main cause for sterility in both sexes (78% of cases) — a characteristic of that region of Gabon. Cases of obstruction of the genital organs in women who have developed STDs have been brought to the doctors’ attention. The CIRMF doctors say: «In Gabon, parasitic illnesses and malaria, frequent in women who are pregnant (33%) are equally responsible for sterility». The doctors are convinced that the only therapeutic solution for cases of feminine sterility linked to blocked tubes, is in In Vitro Fertilisation or assisted medical fertilisation. According to Doctor Félix Caillaud: «This costly technique has been carried out on an experimental level by the CIRMF.»

Uranium has been extracted in open-cast mining in the south of the country in the Mounana region. Many hectares of land have been affected and this is the cause of soil and vegetation deterioration. Of the 36,000 tons of saleable ore announced for 1996, it was noted that after 40 years of extraction, the volume of commercial ore was in fact only about 28,000 tons.

Waterholes

Professor Juste Boussienguet believes that «the process of treating uranium ore mainly effects water resources», and points out the physico-chemical pollution of surface waters. Further, he stresses that in the Mounana region, «the water of the Rivers Ngamaboungou and Mitembé are acidic and so unsuited to the development of aquatic life». Processing uranium in the Mounana plant causes radioactive pollution in storage areas and places where marketable ore is kept. The scientists affirm that this results in the food chain being contaminated Furthermore, aggregate from the uranium quarries have formed craters. Here, parasitic illnesses have every opportunity for developing.

The first alarm concerning the menace of industrial waste came from that Mounana mining region where the water courses increased in acidity: shoals of decomposing fish floated to the surface of the rivers. For the villagers, fishing is one of the main activities undertaken by women and young girls. Charles Sambat, a former miner now retired, says: «Diseases with strange symptoms first appeared after the closure of the uranium plant in 1999. At first all went well, even if the waste was never treated but poured into the surrounding water courses». Sylvie Menga, of the «Woman and Environment» Association, affirms that the «main causes of environmental degradation, can be laid at the door of uranium and manganese extraction which uses procedures in vogue at a  time when environmental preoccupations were secondary.»

In Gabon, one of the precursors in the area of biodiversity protection is the Anglo-Dutch oil company, Gabon-Shell, which has always carried out its promises. The Gabon-Shell management was in the habit of making studies of environmental impact before embarking on any project. For 40 years, it has been carrying out projects in the Gamba area (south-west Gabon). This is a major oil site internationally known for its biological potential. Recently, Gabon-Shell has offered the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Adventures without Borders Organisation (ASF) and the Fauna and Hunting Management (DFC), the use of a triple-decked tugboat as an observation post for observing humpbacked whales which come to give birth twice a year on the Gabonese coast.

• Anthony Lawson, Gabon, March 2003 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment