Use of radiactively contaminated material in building ... · PDF file Use of radiactively...
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www.ecologic.eu Use of radiactively contaminated material in building construction from uranium mines in Gabon and Niger Report prepared by Sebastian Veit and Tanja Srebotnjak (Ecologic Institute) for the Joint ACP EU PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY Presented by: Sebastian Veit, Senior Climate Economist, Lead consultant for Ecologic Institute
Transcript of Use of radiactively contaminated material in building ... · PDF file Use of radiactively...
www.ecologic.eu
Use of radiactively contaminated material in building construction from uranium mines in
Gabon and Niger
Report prepared by Sebastian Veit and Tanja Srebotnjak (Ecologic Institute) for the Joint ACP
EU PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY
Presented by:Sebastian Veit, Senior Climate Economist, Lead
consultant for Ecologic Institute
www.ecologic.eu
CONSTRUCTION DE LOGEMENTS D’HABITATION AVEC DES RÉSIDUS D’URANIUM D’EXPLOITATION AU GABON ET AU NIGER
30 September 2010
European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit 2
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French state owned corporation Areva operates in both countries. Aspects the study took into consideration:
1. Health impacts on workers and civilians from uranium mines;
2. detailed assessment of uranium mining practices and utilization of contaminated construction materials;
3. overview of international standards and guidelines for sound mining practices.
30 September 2010
European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit 3
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Conducted field mission to Gabon, Mounana, 600 km South-East of Libreville (capital)
30 September 2010
4European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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Gabon, major findings• No contaminated construction material has been utilized;
• Yet, as the distance to the mine shafts, processing factory and waste dumps are only 500 to 600 meters, likelihood of contamination is high.
• Radio activity is measured daily by Areva but records are inaccessible.
• Gabon is signatory candidate of EITI.30 September 2010
5European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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New explorations by Areva in full swing
30 September 2010
6European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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Village lake used as waste dump
30 September 2010
7European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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Remnants of processing facility to crush uranium ore and production of yellow cake
30 September 2010
8European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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Desk study for Niger for security reasons. Results include:
Contaminated construction materials have been sold on local markets;
Groundwater radioactive and contaminated dust accumulates everywhere;
No workers protection and compensation for occupational illnesses;
Third Uranium mine is expected to commence operations in 2013;
Niger also a signatory candidate to EITI.
30 September 2010
9European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
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Recommendations for follow-up action:• Exert political pressure on Areva to adhere to
international standards such as ICMM;
• EP assessment on capacity building needs to ratify, implement and reinforce international mining standards;
• Possibly further commissioning of detailed radiological measurements and data collection to determine the extent of actual contamination.
30 September 2010
10European Parliament, ACP-EU JPA – Sebastian Veit
