Emissions will rise under Olympic Dam plan: greens
Sydney Morning Herald Marian Wilkinson Environment Editor August 3, 2009
BHP-Billiton’s plan to dig the biggest open-cut uranium and copper mine in the world is under attack from environmental groups who claim it will send greenhouse gas emissions soaring in the home state of the Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong.The battle over the massive expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia comes as mining companies are in talks with the Government over whether the copper industry will be granted free permits to cover greenhouse gas emissions because of export competition from countries such as Chile.If the talks are successful, BHP could be shielded from some of the high costs of greenhouse pollution associated with the mine’s expansion under the Government’s carbon pollution reduction scheme.
BHP estimates that the expanded Olympic Dam mine could produce up to 4.7 million tonnes (4.7 megatonnes) of greenhouse emissions every year at its peak, according to its environmental impact statement, which is on display. That figure is close to 1 per cent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions today.
The Australian Conservation Foundation estimates that by 2020 the mine’s expansion will increase South Australia’s emissions by about 12.4 per cent a year.
A spokeswoman for Senator Wong told the Herald yesterday the copper industry ‘‘is working with the Department of Climate Change to assess copper’s eligibility’’ for free permits under the Government’s scheme and whether it qualifies.
Uranium mining is not considered eligible for free permits under the Government’s scheme but Olympic Dam’s main product will be its huge copper reserves.
Public submissions to the state and federal Labor governments on BHP’s environmental statement close this week.
Archive for the ‘BHPB watch’ Category
BHPB emphasises copper, not uranium, in effort to get free greenhouse gas permits
August 3, 2009Submissions opposing expanded BHPB uranium mine
July 31, 2009Many organisations and individuals across Australia are now sending in submissions in response to BHP Billiton’s Environmental Impact statement (EIS), to be reviewed soon by Australia’s Federal government. Final date for submissions is 7th August
Many Australians are outraged at this proposal – to create the largest man-made hole, and largest radioactive tailings waste, in the world.
Their objections include:
FAILURE TO ASSESS NO-URANIUM OPTION:
* BHP Billiton has not been required to consider mining copper, silver and gold but not uranium − an option which would allow for ongoing, profitable mining while addressing some of the major problems (namely, high-level nuclear waste problems and nuclear weapons proliferation risks associated with uranium export).
THE ROXBY DOWNS INDENTURE ACT
* The Roxby Downs Indenture Act allows wide-ranging and totally indefensible exemptions from key laws such as the SA Aboriginal Heritage Act, Environmental Protection Act 1993, Freedom of Information Act 1991 and Natural Resources Act 2004. The exemptions should be repealed and if the expansion is to proceed, the exemptions should not be extended to cover the expansion.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION RISKS
* Export of uranium is expected to increase from an average of 4,000 tonnes per year to 19,000 tonnes. In power reactors, 19,000 tonnes of uranium produces enough plutonium to build 2,850 nuclear weapons. The total amount of uranium at Olympic Dam would produce enough plutonium to build over 340,000 nuclear weapons.
* The International Atomic Energy Agency has admitted that its rights of inspection are “fairly limited” and that it operates on a “shoe-string budget comparable to a local police department”.
* The mine expansion is heavily dependant on selling uranium and a uranium-infused copper concentrate to the undemocratic, secretive, murderous and militaristic regime in China. BHP Billiton also wants to export uranium to other nuclear weapons states including Russia even though there has not been a single IAEA safeguards inspection in Russia since 2001.
RADIOACTIVE RACISM
* The Roxby Downs Indenture Act provides overrides and exemptions from the SA Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. BHP Billiton is in a legal position to determine what consultation occurs with Traditional Owners, who is consulted, and nature of any consultation.
* BHP Billiton supports Reconciliation Australia’s ‘good governance’ program and has provided over $2 million to Reconciliation Australia, yet the company will not relinquish its exemptions from the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. The company’s position is hypocritical.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
* Radioactive tailings wastes are exposed and open to the environment and currently amount to about 100 million tonnes. The tailings contain a toxic, acidic soup of radionuclides and heavy metals.
* BHP Billiton plans to increase the production of radioactive tailings waste seven-fold to 68 million tonnes annually to cover an area of up to 44 sq kms to a height of up to 65 metres. This toxic mountain is designed to leak on average 3 million litres of radioactive waste a day. BHP plans to line only 15% of the proposed tailings facility.
* There have been numerous spills and leaks and large numbers of bird deaths have been recorded in the vicinity of tailings dams. Photos taken by an Olympic Dam mine worker in December 2008 show radioactive tailings liquid leaking from the so-called rock ‘armoury’ of the so-called tailings ‘retention’ system. BHP Billiton then threatened “disciplinary action” against any worker taking photos of the mine site. The company can also restrict the release of information because of the exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act 1991.
* Overseas, Olympic Dam uranium will end up as high level nuclear waste. However no country has a permament repository for this waste let alone a better solution than dumping it in a repository. The most advanced high-level nuclear repository project was Yucca Mountain − a $10 billion fiasco that was 23 years behind schedule when the project was permanently abandoned by President Obama earlier this year.
WASTING WATER
* BHP Billiton proposes an increase in water consumption from 37 million litres daily (from the Great Artesian Basin) to over 250 million litres daily (up to 42 million litres from the Great Artesian Basin, the remainder from a proposed desalination plant near Whyalla). That’s over 100,000 litres every minute − in the driest state in the driest inhabited continent.
* The water take from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is a direct risk to the unique and fragile ecology of the Mound Springs that are listed as an ‘endangered ecological community’ under federal environment legislation and depend on the natural flows of water from the GAB. BHP Billiton should be required to phase out − and not to increase − extraction of GAB water.
* The Indenture Act allows BHP Billiton to extract massive and unsustainable amounts of water from the Great Artesian Basin for free despite the company’s $17.7 billion profit in 2007-08.
* BHP Billiton wants to site the proposed desalination inappropriately in the fragile and low flushing Upper Spencer Gulf, posing a threat to the breeding ground of the Giant Australian Cuttle Fish.
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION & GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS
* The expansion will see the mine’s electricity consumption increase over six-fold from 125MW to 775MW. BHP plans to source this from some combination of the state electricity grid, a proposed on-site gas-fired plant, and a proposed on-site plant powered by waste heat. There is no requirement for BHP Billiton to source any electricity for the mine site from renewable sources.
* Greenhouse emissions from the mine are projected to increase from 1.2 million tonnes annually to up to 5.9 million tonnes. This will make it all but impossible for SA to reach its legislated emissions target of 13 million tonnes annually by 2050.
* BHP Billiton promotes uranium as a fuel for low-carbon nuclear power but this is true only if compared to fossil fuels. Nuclear power is more greenhouse intensive than most renewable energy sources and most energy efficiency/conservation measures.
* BHP Billiton plans to increase the use of diesel at the Olympic Dam mine from 25 million litres annually to over 375 million litres annually (even more during the proposed five year construction period). The company stands to gain over $65 million annually in diesel fuel rebates − more than the company now pays in royalties to the SA government from the existing underground mine operation.
THE STING IN THE TAIL
* Water consumption, radioactive waste production, energy consumption and greenhouse emissions may all be considerably higher than the figures presented in the Draft EIS because BHP Billiton has applied for approval to extract up to 1 million tonnes of copper product a year even though the EIS only examines an expansion of up to 750,000 tonnes.
Uranium Mine Olympic Dam expansion to skyrocket greenhouse emissions
July 29, 2009Olympic Dam expansion hits emission hopes
THE AUSTRALIAN Gavin Lower | July 29, 2009
BHP Billiton’s proposed multi-billion-dollar expansion of its Olympic Dam mine will increase South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 12 per cent, casting doubt on Mike Rann’s climate change credentials, environmentalists said yesterday.The Australian Conservation Foundation said BHP Billiton was seeking government approval to increase Olympic Dam’s greenhouse emissions by at least 4.1 million tonnes a year — the equivalent of more than a million inefficient cars on the road.The Premier, who is also South Australia’s Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change, has pledged as part of the state’s strategic plan to meeting the Kyoto target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 108 per cent of 1990 levels by 2012.But the ACF says the Olympic Dam expansion, which would create the world’s largest open pit mine, 560km north of Adelaide, would cause a “blow out” to the state’s current emissions of 33 million tonnes a year……………………..
“How can Mr Rann maintain his image as a climate change leader when the state will continue its pollution for a decade?” Climate change program manager Tony Mohr said………………………
Mr Mohr said if BHP Billiton was allowed to increase its emissions to the levels it was seeking, the public’s confidence in reducing emissions and their own efforts to do so would be undone. He said the mine expansion would also be one of the single biggest impacts on Australia’s efforts to meet international emissions targets.
Impact of uranium mining on Australia’s precious water supplies
July 27, 2009What impact is uranium mining having on our water?
The Advertiser, by Jim Green, 25 july 09
ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett buttressed his decision last week to approve in situ leach (ISL) uranium mining at Beverley Four Mile with the claim that he is “certain this operation poses no credible risk to the environment”.
Thus Mr Garrett adds another chapter to the history of spin surrounding ISL mining.
Environmental debates typically revolve around differing assessments of the possibility of environmental contamination.
But with ISL mining, environmental pollution – specifically contamination of groundwater with radionuclides, heavy metals and acid – is a certainty.
ISL mining involves pumping an acidic solution into an aquifer, dissolving the uranium ore and other heavy metals and pumping the solution back to the surface.
After the uranium has been separated, liquid radioactive waste is simply dumped in the aquifer. Isolation and containment of the pollutants would not be difficult or expensive, but the mining companies will take the cheaper option of polluting groundwater for as long as the politicians let them……………………
A 2003 Senate References and Legislation Committee report recommended banning the discharge of radioactive liquid mine waste to groundwater. ISL uranium mining is used at the Beverley uranium mine and it is the mining method proposed for Beverley Four Mile, Oban and Honeymoon.
The future of this mining technique is plain to see: short-lived mines leaving SA with a legacy of polluted aquifers.
Spills and leaks are common at ISL mines. The SA Department of Primary Industry and Resources lists 59 spills at Beverley from 1998 to 2007.
Serious questions must be raised as to BHP Billiton’s capacity to safely manage radioactive tailings at Olympic Dam if, as planned, tailings production increases sevenfold to 68 million tonnes annually and water consumption increases to more than 250 million litres daily.
BHP Billiton pays nothing for its massive water take for the Olympic Dam mine, despite recording a $17.7 billion profit in 2007-8. That arrangement is enshrined in the Roxby Downs Indenture Act 1982………
……… The Indenture Act provides a raft of exemptions and overrides from the SA Natural Resources Act 2004, the Environment Protection Act 1993, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 and even the Freedom of Information Act 1991.
BHP Billiton and the Rann Government are currently engaged in secret discussions over the future of the Indenture Act.
BHP Billiton’s record in Indonesia etc
December 3, 2008Press Release by JATAM (Indonesian Mining Advocacy Network) and WALHI
(FoE
Indonesia), 23 October 2008
Stop destroying our protected forests and small islands
On 23rd October 2008, BHP Billiton will hold its shareholder meeting in
England. In Indonesia, the company is turning a protected forest in
Central Kalimantan into a coal mine. It is also going to devastate Gag
Island, Papua, by mining nickel and dumping tailings in the sea – a sea
which contains the richest biodiversity in the world. This is bound to
make BHP Billiton shareholders feel ashamed.
Gag Island, in Papua, covers an area of just 9,200 hectares, lying in
the
Raja Ampat Island cluster, which is
known to host the highest level of
marine biodiversity in the world. Four hundred and fifty types of coral,
950 types of reef fish and more than 600 species of molluscs of various
size can be found here. Two years ago the area was proposed as a World
Heritage Site.
Gag Island also contains one of the world’s biggest laterite nickel
deposits. In 1998 BHP Billiton signed a contract of work with the
repressive Suharto regime to acquire the nickel deposit in a joint
venture
with PT Antam Indonesia. The companies established PT Gag Nikel, with a
concession covering the whole island and the surrounding waters. The
company will develop an open-pit mine, excavating 660,000 tonnes of ore
per day and dumping 627,000 tonnes of tailings into the sea. Gag Island
could well disappear.
Despite its status as a protected forest, with soil extremely prone to
erosion, PT Gag Nikel is pressing ahead with a
mine. The island’s
topography is also susceptible to landslides, because 27% of the land
consists of steep slopes and rainfall is quite high. It is certain that
the corals and other marine biodiversity will end up being destroyed by
sedimentation.
PT Gag Nikel’s contract was signed without any agreement whatsoever from
local people. From 1999 to 2004 BHP Billiton along with other
multinational mining companies, put pressure on the Indonesian
government
to change Forestry Law No 41, 1999, which prohibits open-pit mining in
protected forests. The companies’ move led to public protests across the
country. At the time, the company even threatened to take the Indonesian
government to international arbitration if it prevented open-pit mining
from going ahead on Gag. In the end, the pressure worked and in 2004, a
new law was issued which permitted PT Gag, among others, to go ahead
with
open-pit
mining.
Tension in the area has increased since PT Gag Nikel appeared. On April
24th this year, for example, local people blockaded the door of the
company’s office in Sorong. Given that West Papua is a region of
conflict
and military brutality, people fear that PT Nikel will worsen human
rights
conditions there.
In another part of Indonesia, in Central Kalimantan, BHP Billiton’s coal
mine is changing the nature of 65,858 hectares of protected forest,
which
cover the upper reaches of the area’s main rivers. The coal is being
sent
to generate electricity, creating greenhouse gas emissions and
contributing to global warming.
At the upcoming shareholders meeting, this morning at 10.30am local time
in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, England, JATAM
and WALHI are demanding that BHP Billiton stop these mining projects.
Stop
destroying protected forests and
small Islands in Indonesia, both in
Central Kalimantan and West Papua, and in other parts of the world.
Also,
we ask shareholders to stop profiting from this destruction and bad
governance.
Sibuyan community statement
No to BHP Billiton!
Early October, the Taclobo (San Fernando, Sibuyan Island, Romblon)
village
chief received notices of small-scale mining applications (July 9, 2008)
of two previous holders of small-scale mining permits (SSMP) which
expired
in May 2008.
All Acacia Resources Inc. (AARI) is applying for another 20 hectares for
utilisation of nickel ores and SunPacific Resources Philippines Inc.
(SRPI) for another 15.58 hectares. They seek for another two-year permit
from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of the province of
Romblon.
We strongly oppose the application for small-scale mining permit of
SunPacific Resources Philippines Inc.
(SRPI) and All-Acacia Resources
Inc., (AARI) stockholders of mining conglomerate Sibuyan Nickel
Properties
Development Corp. (SNPDC), venture partner of Pelican Resources Ltd
(ASX-PEL) of Australia. SNPDC has a Memorandum of Agreement with QNI
Philippines (QNPH), as agent for Queensland Nickel Pty. Ltd. (QNPL)
acting
for and on behalf of the joint venture participants of QNPL Resources
Pty.
Ltd. and QNPL Metals Pty. Ltd., which are subsidiaries of the global
mining giant BHP Billiton. SNPDC further has a Memorandum of
Understanding
(MOU) with Altai Philippines Mining Corp (APMC), which is connected to
Altai Resources Inc (TSX-ATI) of Canada.
The agreement grants BHP Billiton or its related entity the exclusive
rights to purchase laterite nickel ore mined by SNPDC. BHP Billiton in
return shall finance the exploration and drilling evaluation upon the
issuance of Mineral Productions Sharing Agreement (MPSA) permit
by the
Philippine Government. The total cost of financing is $250,000.
Both AARI and SRPI (with Mabuhay Gold Project in Mindanao) are
partners of
Pelican Resources Ltd.
“Because MPSA and Exploration Permit cannot be issued quickly, SNPDC
tries
to use SSMP to access the areas as they did before. These small-scale
mining applications show the aggressive push for the financed further
exploration and drilling of BHP Billiton” opines Rodne Galicha,
Executive
Director of Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc.
(Sibuyan
ISLE).
“BHP Billiton through its subsidiaries and partners can be described
as an
island-swallowing Godzilla”, says Taclobo village resident Lando Tan, a
former Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas-World Wildlife Fund (KKP-WWF)
staff.
Late last year, the chief security officer of SNPDC shot to death a
newly-elected councillor, Hon. Armin Rios-Marin, during a picket
against
mining.
The ice-age Sibuyan Island, dubbed as Galapagos of Asia, is where the
world’s densest forest flourishes, the Philippines’ cleanest inland
body
of water flows, and the majestic Mt. Guiting-guiting dwells.
Rodne R. Galicha
Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment, Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE)
Website: www.sibuyan.com
Lee Rhiannon MLC – The people of Wedderburn v BHP Billiton
December 2, 2008The people of Wedderburn v BHP Billiton
04 September 2008BHP Billiton recorded a $17 billion profit last financial year. Last Tuesday night in a cold hall at Wedderburn, 10 kilometres south of Campbelltown on the outskirts of Sydney, I had an upclose glimpse of how this company pulls in such obscene amounts of money……………….The main spokesperson for BHP Billiton was Jim Middleton……………………..They are quite cagey about revealing details of their decades of local mining experience. In 2006 Illawarra Coal declined to be interviewed by the magazine Australian Mining. The journalist who unsuccessfully pursued the interview was willing to speak to any one of ten of BHP Billiton’s Illawarra operations but the response was that all the possible spokespersons were “time-challenged”.
The theme for BHP Billiton’s operations is clear – avoid scrutiny at all costs. While the journalist with Australian Mining was given the flick the Wedderburn community did not comply so easily………………………I found this a disturbing event to participate in. The frustration of the locals heightened as the evening wore on. For all the politeness and apparent helpfulness of the BHP Billiton staff they cannot give satisfactory answers. Their job is to contain local opposition using divide and conquer tactics. They cannot give satisfactory answers to the questions of the people of Wedderburn when they ask for certainty that the local rivers will not crack, that the local environment will not be damaged and their homes will not be undermined…………………….
This whole process is a charade. A crude con job designed to divert locals who BHP Billiton know will do everything in their power to stop mining under Wedderburn proceeding.
So locals are given the illusion that submissions and community consultations will make a difference.
Locals have tried to engage with the process that BHP Billiton rolls out in accordance with the loose planning laws under which this mine will be approved.
antinuclear
December 2, 2008Lax mining laws Advertiser Dr. Jim Green29/11 AT its annual general meeting on Thursday, BHP Billiton CEO Marius Kloppers said the company will not relinquish legal privileges contained in the Roxby Downs Indenture Act.This 1982 legislation exempts the Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam) uranium/copper mine from South Australian environmental and Aboriginal heritage protection laws and also curtails the Freedom of Information Act……………………………………….no excuse for ultra-lite environmental standards. BHP Billiton proposes digging a pit of about 20 cu km, increasing uranium production to 19,000 tonnes per year, increasing water consumption to 150 million litres daily, and increasing radioactive tailings production to 70 million tonnes per year.Yet the company wants to retain its exemptions from the SA Environment Protection Act and the Natural Resources Act.Haven’t events in recent months taught us about the perils of lax corporate regulation?
Protect the Great Artesian Basin! Stop Olympic Dam!
December 2, 2008Protect the Great Artesian Basin! Stop Olympic Dam!
SERVETHEPEOPLE 27 Nov 08 – Arabunna elder Kevin Buzzacott told Directors and shareholders. This courageous and defiant call was made by a man who has spent his life standing up to some of the giants in mining, industry and politics on behalf of his land and his people.The local (South Australian) media have buried Buzzacott’s comments and it’s been left to a New Zealand site to give voice to his anger at BHP Billiton…………………..BHP Billiton currently draws about 35 megalitres of water per day from the GAB for mining purposes. This water comes from two borefields north of Olympic Dam. It does not pay for this water. Therefore there is no incentive not to waste the water, nor to limit the future draw on the borefields……..Our illustrious Premier keeps bragging that we are mineral rich, that we are set to become the “Saudi Arabia of uranium mining”.
Nowhere does he alert us to the fact that pressure in the GAB has dropped dramatically.
BHP Billiton continues to bleed the GAB dry without paying a cent for its water wastage. Cyanide used in mineral recovery (leaching) and radioactive wastes lie about as surface waters, poisoning wildlife and filtering back into local shallow aquifers. Not content with what it has already, BHP Billiton is currently trying to buy properties along the Birdsville Track…they need MORE water than the GAB can deliver.
For the sake of the shareholders of an already bloated multinational, South Australia and other parts of the country are being damaged for all time[13].
This must stop.
We must take an interest in this issue and put country first.
The legal exemptions granted to WMC and inherited by BHP Billiton in the form of the SA Roxby Downs Indenture Act must be repealed!
The voice of Kevin Buzzacott must be heard in South Australia! servethepeople: Protect the Great Artesian Basin! Stop Olympic Dam!
antinuclear
December 2, 2008Nuclear train plan for Alice: One train, 1km long, every day CENTRALIAN AdvocateDaniel Burdon 28 Nov 08 TRAINLOADS of radioactive material up to 1km long would pass through Alice Springs every day by 2016, under a plan put before the town council on Monday.The proposed expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine in South Australia could result in the ore being ferried north by rail.Greens have slammed the proposal, citing major concerns ..including possible derailments, radioactive dust escaping from”closed wagons” and long-term social and environmental effects………………….
Ms Poddar, for BHPBilliton said: “What we’re talking about is a very low level of radioactivity. ………
…………..Alderman Jane Clark, chairwoman of the Environmental Advisory Committee, said: “There is also the potential if BHP’s transport option is approved, that this will be used as a precedent.
So if Cameco starts mining the Angela-Pamela deposit, it might follow suit and transport uranium directly through Alice Springs to Darwin.”
Good times wane for BHP
December 2, 2008Good times wane for BHP
Herald Sun Felicity Williams 28 Nov 08 Two days after BHP dumped its $102 billion bid for Rio Tinto in the face of the global financial crisis, chief executive Marius Kloppers warned the climate made it difficult to predict customer demand.”The world has changed significantly in the past three months and,in our world of mining and resources, that rate of change has accelerated rapidly within the last month,”Mr Kloppers told the 800-odd shareholders attending the company’s annual meeting in Melbourne.
He added: “These challenges are impacting every part of the economy and, as a major global supplier of many key commodities, we will not be immune from the effects.”…………………….
The abandoned Rio bid was the subject of surprisingly few shareholder questions.
Investors appeared more concerned about plans to mine the world’s largest uranium resource at Olympic Dam in South Australia.
