ArcelorMittal fined EUR 6000 for water pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BOSNIA -- "The Federal Inspectorate has fined ArcelorMittal 13 300 KM [around EUR 6000] for yet another pollution incident in the River Bosna in Bosnia-Herzegovina, just a day after the company reportedly denied that it was the cause of the most recent incident.

Laboratory analysis of samples taken during the pollution incident in the Zenica area has confirmed that the substances involved originated from ArcelorMittal Zenica's slag landfill.

Very high pH values, electrical conductivity of TDS (total dissolved solids) and suspended particles were registered, and the confirmed values of the tested quality parameters are characteristic for waste waters from a tailings basin with slag, according to the analysis.

The results of the published chemical analysis show that wastewater from the slag landfill caused the pollution incident on 15th and 16th August at Banlozi.

The Agency for the Sava River Basin recommends that the Inspectorate bans the discharge of such wastewater into waterways, or that pretreatment is carried out before its release. The Inspectorate is planning to meet with ArcelorMittal next week to discuss wastewater treatment.

Pippa Gallop, Research Co-ordinator, Central and Eastern Europe Bankwatch Network

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Arcelor Mittal: Penal za ekološki incident 13.300 KM

http://www.bitno.ba/vijesti/bosna-i-hercegovina/potvrdeno-arcelormittal-kriv-za-zagadenje-bosne

Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal complicit in the misuse of county development funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- "The County Social Development Fund established by the government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal Liberia is failing to address the needs of communities impacted by the operations of ArcelorMittal in Liberia. This is the key conclusion of a new report released by Sustainable Development Institute from Liberia, Friends of the Earth Europe and Global Action on ArcelorMittal, a coalition of civil society groups tracking ArcelorMittal operations worldwide,"

-- press release, Global Action on ArcelorMittal.

Rusty reasoning: groups challenge European Investment Bank to justify the latest ArcelorMittal public millions

Arcelor Mittal operations in Zenica, Bosnia. (Adnan Dzonlic)

LUXEMBOURG -- On 21 October 2009 the European Investment Bank’s board of directors approved a loan to ArcelorMittal worth EUR 250 million for a research and development programme said to be all about bringing environmental added value to the company's European operations. Couldn't a company the size of ArcelorMittal be expected to either fund the project out of its own resources or be able to access commercial loans, leaving advantageous European Investment Bank funding to companies more in need? Frustrated by their dealings with the EIB on these matters, Bankwatch, ClientEarth and Global Action on ArcelorMittal have this week lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary General of the European Investment Bank that questions the rigour and ultimate validity of the bank's pre-loan assessment. Read it here and consider the magnetic pull ArcelorMittal seems to have towards public money.

-- CEE Bank Watch Network

EU court dismisses Arcelor challenge against ETS

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The EU's General Court yesterday (2 March) ruled against steel company Arcelor's attempt to challenge the rules governing the EU's emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) and associated claim for damages. The Court ruled Arcelor's action as inadmissible on the grounds that only companies individually or directly concerned by EU acts can bring a legal challenge to them. It argued that Arcelor is "neither individually nor directly concerned by the directive," which applies generally to all operators that it covers, including those in pig iron or steel production.

-- EurActiv.com

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Arcelor Mittal shortlisted for anti-green award

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- "Steel giant Arcelor Mittal's Vanderbijlpark plant has been shortlisted for an infamous international environmental award to be announced alongside the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos this week... The Indian steel giant Arcelor Mittal was nominated for a number of reasons, including that it was not only the largest, but also the filthiest steelworks in South Africa,"

-- Eleanor Momberg, Sunday Independent.

ArcelorMittal’s polluting South African plant shortlisted for Public Eye Global Award in Davos at World Economic Forum

ZAGREB, Croatia -- "The Luxembourg steel giant ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest steel company has been shortlisted along with five other candidates for the Public Eye Global Award to be held in Davos, Switzerland, on the 27th January – the opening day of the World Economic Forum. The company has been selected from over 40 nominees due to its heavily polluting operation in Vanderbijlpark, which is their biggest and most profitable operation in South Africa. The nomination recognises the company’s toxic waste dumping; failure to clean up contamination in neighbourhoods around its steelworks; lobbying against stricter air pollution controls and withholding information from the public that will allow society to better understand the impact of the plant on their health and well-being. The general public can cast votes at www.publiceye.ch until 26th January,"

-- press release, Global Action on ArcelorMittal.