the toxic truth - Greenpeace

the toxic truth
in pulp bleaching produces organic chlorine
compounds of varying sizes, Tocl compounds.
The compounds most harmful to watercourses
are toxic, small molecule chlorine compounds.
because the harmful components of these
compounds are difficult to isolate, an effort is
made to reduce the entire AoX. ” 22
In the course of litigation in the UK personal
injury claim in December 2008, Trafigura
claimed that the TOCl and COD levels it gave
to WAIBS were based on a telephone call with
APS on 3 July. 23
How much waste was
dumped and where?
Many questions remain regarding the waste
that was dumped in Abidjan in 2006. Most
importantly, it is still not known exactly how
much waste was dumped and where, as well as
the exact composition.
The generally cited figure for the amount of
waste that was dumped in Abidjan is 528
cbm. This figure is based on Trafigura’s own
estimates of how much waste was on board
ship after leaving Amsterdam and at the time
of dumping. 27
However, there are some discrepancies
in the information from different sources
regarding the amount of waste dumped at
the various dumping points. There are a
number of sources, including the official
data of the Ivorian authorities and a number
of international and foreign agencies which
responded to the government’s appeal for
assistance in dealing with the disaster. There
are differences between the data, especially
in comparison to the information coming
from the first source: the drivers of the trucks
themselves, who came forward with fresh
testimony in 2010 after having lived in hiding
for years.
Discharge certificates issued by Compagnie
Tommy suggest that there were at least 16
truckloads of waste. There appear to be
discharge certificates missing, however,
which would suggest that there were more
truckloads than originally thought. 28
It appears from the truck drivers’ evidence
that, in fact, 20 truckloads of waste were
taken from the Probo Koala. 29 The detailed
written statements of the nine truck drivers
given to Trafigura and summarized by
Greenpeace in the table below, indicate
that more waste may have been dumped
(between 555 and 572 cbm) than the figure
which has been generally adopted (528 cbm).
Although this is clearly not proof, as the
drivers’ statements are estimations only,
it is nonetheless a possibility that could be
investigated and considered in more detail.
If we compare the information from the drivers
with the limited information that arose from
the class action case between some 30,000
victims of the dumping and Trafigura in the
UK, we can conclude that there are some
similarities but also discrepancies concerning
how many truck discharges took place at each
location.
Key points of similarity and difference:
» The victims estimated that 16 truckloads
were dumped (“each truck containing
approximately 33 cbm per truck of slops
with a broad similarity of content”) 52 , while
the drivers’ statements make clear that in
fact 20 truckloads took place (with trucks
containing between 10 and 37 cbm).
» The victims estimated that only one truck
discharged in Vridi, while the drivers
stated that seven drivers carrying varying
quantities discharged in Vridi. According to
these estimates, this amounts to a total of
around 181,000-193,000L being dumped
in Vridi.
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ANNEX I