Environmental activism and advocacy - Environmental Reform in the Information Age - page 189

8 Environmental activism
and advocacy

1. A natural alliance in transition

On 19 August 2006, a ship called the Probo Koala - chartered by
the International petroleum trader Trafigura LTD and controlled by
the Dutch firm Trafigura Beheer BV - unloaded more than five hun-
dred tonnes of toxic waste 1 in Abidjan, the main economic capital of
Ivory Coast in western Africa. Before that, it tried already to unload
its waste in the port of Amsterdam, but waste treatment proved to be
too expensive (around US$250,000) and too slow (leading to another
US$250,000 loss following late arrivals). The ship moved to the west-
ern coast of Africa where it could unload its toxic waste at a waste
processing company calle Societé Tommy, which was established just a
few days earlier for only this purpose 2 at a price of around US$15,000.
The toxic waste was subsequently dumped at more than ten sites in the
African city, leading to medical treatment of thousands of victims with
symptoms including respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness, vomiting
(including throwing up blood), burns and irritation. Following local
media reporting on these symptoms, local unrest started. It was not
until the first week of September 2006 that the incident became glob-
ally known through the networks of activists and media. The Min-
istry of Health of Ivory Coast announced an extraordinary meeting
that led to the dismissal of its government in September 2006, to be
replaced by almost the same cabinet a few days later (only the ministers

1

The disposed waste consisted of liquid sludge containing large quantities of
hydrocarbons, contaminated with at least three substances: hydrogen sulphides,
mercaptans and caustic soda (as reported by the Centre for Anti-Pollution
Control in Ivory Coast).

2

Investigations focus not only on the criminal role of Societé Tommy, which
unloaded the toxic waste and dumped it, but also on the company Puma
Energy-aTrafigura subsidiary - that stocks oil products in Abidjan and
granted the contract to Societé Tommy, and Waibs, a company that handles
formalities for ships docking at the port.

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