Phosphate antagonists up the ante
Mining project could destroy fishing industry
As long as there is a reasonable level of uncertainty regarding possible damage to the ecosystem, marine phosphate mining must simply not be allowed, the ESJT said.
The Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT) has called on government to put an end to all proposed marine phosphate mining projects in Namibia.
This follows renewed attempts by Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP) to start a project in the country.
Chairperson of the ESJT, Herbert Jauch said in a statement that the environment ministry in June 2018 set aside the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) of NMP for the planned Sandpiper marine phosphate project near Walvis Bay.
“This was a wise and forward-looking decision and followed the Namibian Cabinet’s moratorium on phosphate mining based on the precautionary principle.”
However, NMP already put in motion the process of applying for another ECC this year.
The High Court last year issued a court order that no activities may proceed at the Sandpiper project without an ECC.
The court found that NMP did not apply for the certificate in the prescribed manner during the relevant time and is currently, in any event, without an ECC.
The High Court, however, declined to declare its mining licence invalid.
According to NMP, its licence (ML170) and the rights conferred to the company thereunder are not affected by the findings of the court and remain valid.
Devastating effects
Jauch said various marine biologists have pointed out that marine phosphate mining would have devastating long-term effects on the environment and could destroy Namibia’s fishing industry.
“It is against this background that we noted with great concern that NMP plans to mine the seabed off the coast of Walvis Bay. Such a venture will have a significant and long-lasting ecological impact, but NMP did not investigate the potential impact of noise, toxins and sediment plume on marine life and the ecosystem as a whole.
“The area at which NMP wants to conduct its operations is on the edge of the breeding grounds of hake, monkfish and horse mackerel.”
According to Jauch, as in previous years, NMP showed no appreciation for such considerations and also brushed aside various concerns raised by the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations, which pointed out that “NMP intends to use an on-land area in Walvis Bay, known as Area 37, for the processing of sludge containing phosphate, heavy metals and radioactive materials at a mine dump.
“Waste water used for rinsing the five-million tonnes of sludge will run back into the ocean, or might be leaked into underground freshwater aquifers supplying Walvis Bay”.
Jauch said the key argument is that as long as there is a reasonable level of uncertainty regarding possible damage to the ecosystem and Namibia’s fishing industry, marine phosphate mining must simply not be allowed.
He pointed out that the fishing industry provides thousands of jobs and, if properly managed, can grow further in the years to come.
In the long-term
“The industry is threatened by marine phosphate mining, but its impact on fish breeding and nursery grounds would not be immediately apparent because young fish are not allowed to be caught.
“This means that only when the adult fish populations decrease, the effect would become visible. Hake, for example, are caught when they are several years old and therefore it would take years and decades before such mining impacts would be revealed.
“Marine food webs are complicated and once the damage occurs, it will be irreversible.”
He added that without proper independent and transparent environmental research by internationally recognised marine scientists with adequate knowledge and experience, the likely environmental risks are far too great.
This follows renewed attempts by Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP) to start a project in the country.
Chairperson of the ESJT, Herbert Jauch said in a statement that the environment ministry in June 2018 set aside the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) of NMP for the planned Sandpiper marine phosphate project near Walvis Bay.
“This was a wise and forward-looking decision and followed the Namibian Cabinet’s moratorium on phosphate mining based on the precautionary principle.”
However, NMP already put in motion the process of applying for another ECC this year.
The High Court last year issued a court order that no activities may proceed at the Sandpiper project without an ECC.
The court found that NMP did not apply for the certificate in the prescribed manner during the relevant time and is currently, in any event, without an ECC.
The High Court, however, declined to declare its mining licence invalid.
According to NMP, its licence (ML170) and the rights conferred to the company thereunder are not affected by the findings of the court and remain valid.
Devastating effects
Jauch said various marine biologists have pointed out that marine phosphate mining would have devastating long-term effects on the environment and could destroy Namibia’s fishing industry.
“It is against this background that we noted with great concern that NMP plans to mine the seabed off the coast of Walvis Bay. Such a venture will have a significant and long-lasting ecological impact, but NMP did not investigate the potential impact of noise, toxins and sediment plume on marine life and the ecosystem as a whole.
“The area at which NMP wants to conduct its operations is on the edge of the breeding grounds of hake, monkfish and horse mackerel.”
According to Jauch, as in previous years, NMP showed no appreciation for such considerations and also brushed aside various concerns raised by the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations, which pointed out that “NMP intends to use an on-land area in Walvis Bay, known as Area 37, for the processing of sludge containing phosphate, heavy metals and radioactive materials at a mine dump.
“Waste water used for rinsing the five-million tonnes of sludge will run back into the ocean, or might be leaked into underground freshwater aquifers supplying Walvis Bay”.
Jauch said the key argument is that as long as there is a reasonable level of uncertainty regarding possible damage to the ecosystem and Namibia’s fishing industry, marine phosphate mining must simply not be allowed.
He pointed out that the fishing industry provides thousands of jobs and, if properly managed, can grow further in the years to come.
In the long-term
“The industry is threatened by marine phosphate mining, but its impact on fish breeding and nursery grounds would not be immediately apparent because young fish are not allowed to be caught.
“This means that only when the adult fish populations decrease, the effect would become visible. Hake, for example, are caught when they are several years old and therefore it would take years and decades before such mining impacts would be revealed.
“Marine food webs are complicated and once the damage occurs, it will be irreversible.”
He added that without proper independent and transparent environmental research by internationally recognised marine scientists with adequate knowledge and experience, the likely environmental risks are far too great.
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