/ 23 July 1999

MOZ TO RE-EXPORT TOXIC WASTE

PLANS to re-export hundreds of tonnes of obsolete but highly toxic pesticides from Mozambique will cost the impoverished country at least US$600000. The pesticides, currently stored in the country’s southern city of Matola, were originally meant to be incinerated in a local cement factory. The plan, funded by Denmark, was spiked following outrage by local environmentalists and a damning environmental impact assessment by Mozambican firm Impacto. Mozambique’s environmental ministry secretary general, Francisco Mabjaia, said on Thursday that the government was now considering re-exporting the pesticides for destruction at specialised facilities. The pesticides were originally imported into Mozambique for destruction after an environmental impact assessment by a Danish company found that there would be no serious negative affects if they were incinerated.