The multinational oil distribution company whose toxic waste has killed six people in Côte d’Ivoire’s capital, Abidjan, this week expressed concern about the rising number of people who are falling ill, but said it had not violated international conventions on the disposal of toxic waste.
In a statement published on its website this week, The Netherlands-based Trafigura Group stated that it ”is very concerned about the reports regarding the health of the Abidjan population and is actively seeking ways of assisting the authorities”.
Trafigura also emphasised that the disposal of the waste, which it said were residue slops resulting from the washing of gasoline blend stock, did not violate any regulations: ”The slops from the Probo Koala [a Greek boat chartered by Trafigura] were handed over to a certified local Abidjan slops disposal company, Compagnie Tommy, following Trafigura’s communication to the authorities of the nature of the slops and a written request that the material should be safely disposed of.”
Speaking on Radio France International this week, Yannick Vicaire from Greenpeace France, challenged this: ”It is very clear that all the large maritime companies like Trafigura cannot pretend that they are not aware of the Basle convention. The Basle [the technical name for the slops] convention forbids the export of dangerous toxic products from Europe because less-developed countries are not equipped to treat them properly.”
A sixth person died this week in Abidjan after being exposed to toxic waste, which was dumped in at least 11 sites throughout the city. The sixth victim was a driver employed by Compagnie Tommy.
Another 9 000 people have fallen ill from exposure to the waste, 680 tons of which were unloaded by the Probo Koala.
The city’s public health services are too overwhelmed to cope with the influx of patients. The 33 registration centres that have been set up outside the city’s three main hospitals are unable to provide treatment for the thousands of affected people, whose symptoms range from skin rashes to coughing up blood and intense back pain.
Many of the patients who have managed to see a doctor complain that they have not been given medication.
In order to appease angry residents, the Ivorian authorities this week announced that medical treatment for people affected by toxic fumes would be free.
The government, led by Prime Minister Charles Konan Bedy, resigned last week after the crisis emerged.
International experts on toxic waste removal from France and The Netherlands have been arriving in Abidjan throughout the week, and the clean-up began on Tuesday.
The waste is being placed in bunkers while a permanent solution for its disposal is explored.
There are indications that the waste may simply be sent back to Europe, where it originated.
So far seven Ivorians have been arrested for their involvement in the crisis. This includes custom officials from the port and the directors of Compagnie Tommy, as well as of two other Ivorian companies: Waibs and Puma Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trafigura.