EXCLUSIVE: Somalia approved dumping of 1.5 million metric tonnes of waste from Lebanon in January
By Roble Ibrahim
The government of Somalia through the Ministry of Environment in January approved a proposal by Chinook Urban Mining, a British company to dispose 1.5 million metric tonnes of hazardous waste in Mogadishu from Lenanon, Gooobjoog News has established.
In a leaked approval letter purportedly from the Ministry of Environment dated January 14, 2016 and addressed to a Mr Tarik Alhadairy the chairman of Chinook, the Ministry notes it had approved the proposal by Chinook to dispose hazardous household waste in Mogadishu.
Further, the letter read the Ministry was in the process of issuing a minimum of two years license to Chinook Urban Mining International jointly with two local companies to ‘to conduct the business of waste import and municipal waste disposal pending final review.
Waste composition
The approval indicates Chinook would be licensed to dispose of 1.5 million metric tonnes of mixed municipal waste with 52% being organic, 12% plastic, 16% paper, 6% metal, 4%glass and 10% indicated as others.
The Ministry also enlisted two other local companies namely Somali Water Treatment and Waste Management Company (Sowatco) and Africa Waste and Disposal Management Company Limited for Somalia. These companies would work with Chinook in disposing of the 1.5 million metric tonnes of waste.
The Ministry also said it was expecting Chinook to build a biogas plant which would produce gas upon recycling of the waste. This, it indicates is based on earlier discussions with Africa Waste and Disposal Management Company Limited Chairman, a Mr. Abdibashid Sharif.
“Chinook Urban Mining International will be permitted to dispose of any other wastes or substances under this license agreement,” the letter reads.
Lebanon cancelled deal
In a rebuttal, Chinook did not categorically deny the existence of such a contract but instead noted Lebanon had cancelled waste export deal. “Chinook is not involved in any project with the Lebanese Government as they have taken a decision not to export the waste,” Chinook said.
Goobjoog News also sought the response of the Ministry of Environment but to no avail. However Trade Minister Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed told Goobjoog News the two companies, Somali Water Treatment and Waste Management Company (Sowatco) and Africa Waste and Disposal Management Company Limited for Somalia do not exist in government records.
Sierra Leone contract
Chinook is not new to issues of trans-boundary waste disposal controversy. In January 2016, the government of Sierra Leone issued a statement denying a waste disposal deal with Chinook. It noted: “Government wants to make it abundantly clear that it has not agreed to accept waste from Lebanon and has not authorised any official of state to convey approval to that effect. It went ahead to indicate it was fully aware of the danger posed by hazardous and non hazardous waste and gives assurance it will never expose the public to such long term risks to health and environment.
Trans-boundary waste disposal at global and continental level is guided by the Basel Convention of 1989 and the Bamako Convention which came into force in 1998 respectively. The Basel Convention regulates the trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and other wastes and obliges its Parties to ensure that such wastes are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
The Bamako convention which came into force in 1998 is more specific in the sense that it prohibits the import into Africa of any hazardous (including radioactive) waste.
Consent to dispose
Jim Pucket, the executive director of Basel Convention Action Network, a global pressure group against trans-boundary waste told Goobjoog News since both Lebanon and Somalia are parties to the Basel Convention, Lebanon was bound to notify and get consent of the Somali government before any export would have carried out.
“This presumably could have taken place if Somalia was able to convince Lebanon that the waste would be handled in an environmentally sound manner,” said Puckett.
But even an agreement with Somalia would still have contravened the Bamako convention which Somalia has signed though it has not ratified.
“However this export would fly in the face of the Bamako Convention. The Bamako Convention is an African Regional waste agreement which forbids the importation into the African continent of wastes for any reason and from any country outside of Africa. While Somalia has not ratified Bamako, they have signed it. This indicates that they agree with it and will eventually ratify,” noted Puckett.
Such an export, adds Puckett would have been a real blow to African solidarity against waste colonialism.
The Basel Convention came to being largely due to Italian waste dumping of 16,000 barrels of Italian hazardous industrial waste in Lebanon in 1988.
Health and environmental effects
Abdirashid Arte Aynte a lecturer at Somali University on environmental science says the environmental and health risks are potentially high in such a scenario given the lack of strong policy framework on waste disposal in Somalia.
“Somalia lacks the institutional capacity and established legal framework to cushion the citizens and environment from potential adverse effects which may result out of the disposal of these wastes from Lebanon. This requires some legislation and government body which will not only provide the guidance but also insulate the country from any adverse effects,” said Aynte.
“People living near the waste disposal site could be exposed to physical and biological conditions and diseases such as cancer, neuro- development disorders, skin cancer, malformations and even birth rates affected,” says Aynte.