BHP should 'put money where mouth is'
BY SEAN HEALY
SYDNEY — The Mineral Policy Institute (MPI) has condemned mining giant BHP's unwillingness to take any responsibility for the destruction wreaked by its Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea, in spite of the company's July 27 announcement of a record $1.6 billion annual profit.
BHP has still not made any commitment to look after the PNG people down the entire poisoned river system or the environment for as long as damage caused by its mine lasts.
The company knows the damage will last most of the 21st century and continue to get worse. The mine will kill around 1000 square kilometres of forest, 70% to 90% of fish are dead and people will find it difficult to get enough food.
"It's time for BHP to put its money where its mouth is", said Geoff Evans, the director of the Sydney-based MPI, which provides research and advocacy to communities affected by the environmental and human rights impacts of the mining
industry in Asia and the Pacific.
"BHP has known about the extreme impact of the mine for years now. The company has made no commitments yet to look after the PNG people or environment for as long as its damage lasts."
"Decades of destruction require a decades-long commitment from BHP. The company admits it should never have opened the mine. The company now has to remedy the disaster it has caused."
BHP is used to paying out money for non-performance. The company has written off $2 billion dollars for the non-financial performance of the Magma Copper purchase. The challenge now is for BHP to demonstrate its "environmental values" by paying out for non-environmental and non-social performance.
BHP's CEO, Paul Anderson, says the mine "is not compatible with BHP's environmental values". The company has said it wants out of Ok Tedi and the mine is expected to close in 10 years or earlier, if World Bank recommendations are implemented.
"This expected record profit is BHP's opportunity to demonstrate its values. Currently there are a profusion of studies under way. There is, however, no commitment from BHP to stay involved after the mine is shut while the damage caused by it continues", Evans said.