abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

29 Jul 2015

Author:
Melissa Fourie, Robyn Hugo & Nicole Löser, Centre for Environmental Rights in GroundUp

So. Africa: ArcelorMittal's environmental records publicly released following NGOs' legal victory

 'Steel giant's environmental records exposed', 29 Jul 2015:...Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance [has] formally released the…Environmental Master Plan for the Vanderbijlpark Steel Works owned by…ArcelorMittal [South Africa] (AMSA)…In the early 2000s…the company commissioned…specialist environmental tests…[D]espite undertakings…to share the Master Plan with local communities, in 2003 they were only given a summary report…In 2011, with support from…Centre for Environmental Rights (CER)…Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) submitted a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act for the Master Plan....These documents were finally released to VEJA in December 2014, after the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld VEJA’s case...The report showed a “potentially unacceptable” risk to the environment and human health…through affected drinking water…AMSA…CEO Paul O’Flaherty announced that…[the company] was committed to dealing with its “legacy” of environmental problems “openly and transparently”…While these sentiments are to be welcomed, historical liabilities remain. Adequate rehabilitation measures must be completed, and those who have suffered must be compensated.