Archived press release

South African Pollution Scandal EXPOSED at Anglo-American AGM

25 April 2003

Anglo-American, the UK listed mining & pulp and paper giant, will be challenged at its AGM today to clean up its act by Desmond D'Sa, a South African community leader, supported by Friends of the Earth. Mr D'Sa, leader of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, will be raising concerns about the pollution caused by Anglo American's paper mill subsidiary Mondi in South Africa.

South Durban is a pollution hotspot and home to more than 120 industries that are within and adjacent to residential areas. Mondi is considered one of the biggest polluters in the area. The local community is demanding that Mondi stops polluting their neighbourhood.

Mr D'Sa and Groundwork - Friends of the Earth South Africa are particularly concerned that Mondi are planning to save money by switching off their gas fired boiler. Mondi are planning instead to generate electricity by continuing to use two coal fired boilers and by building a combuster, which will burn waste material from the plant, such as coal ash and other production waste.

The local community believe that this will increase profits for Anglo American at the expense of the health of local residents. Mondi's South African and European operations achieved top spot in Anglo American's portfolio with a 21% contribution to headline earnings in 2002. The local community is demanding that maximum use is made of the existing gas-fired boiler and that emission control devices are installed on the existing coal-fired boilers. Presently there are no such devices being used. The community group is challenging in court the South African Government's decision to let the construction of the combuster go ahead. Mondi's operations in south Durban have already led to WHO and SA Environmental air pollution guidelines being exceeded in the south Durban area.

"Anglo-American must be put on notice that the levels of air pollutant emissions from its site violate the constitutional rights of the residents of south Durban to a clean environment," says Desmond D'Sa. "Mondi must not go ahead with building this waste combuster. In a democratic South Africa environmental injustices perpetrated by Anglo American must be severely dealt with."

Ed Matthew, Corporates Campaigner for Friends of the Earth added, "This kind of environmental abuse by British corporations will continue unless the British Government uses the opportunity of the forthcoming Company Law Bill to make the Directors of UK companies fully liable and accountable for the destructive impacts of their operations overseas."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust