'BHP cannot dump Ok Tedi'
The National, Copyright 2000
November 10, 2000
IT WOULD be a major drawback for BHP if the mining giant was to pull out as the major shareholder of the Ok Tedi mine without paying for the environmental and social damage caused, a German environmental pressure group has said.
Dr Klaus Baumgardt of "Retter die Elbe" (Save the Elbe, a river in Germany) said BHP is very much responsible for the environmental damage and can't just quit.
He said he would be talking with Australian environmental groups on his return to Germany on Monday to gain support and keep BHP under pressure to reach an amicable situation for the Ok Tedi mine, the people and environment.
"We will not allow BHP to get away without paying compensation for damage caused," Dr Baumgardt said.
He was responding to a questioned raised by The National at a media briefing yesterday on his view of BHP's decision to pull out of its major shareholdings in the Ok Tedi mine.
Dr Baumgardt described his two day visit to the Ok Tedi mine accompanied by a member of another German environmental group, the German Pacific Network, and three executives of the leading German copper smelter Norddeutsche Affinerie (NA), as very interesting and impressive.
Dr Baumgardt said they will prepare a detailed report which will be put out on the Internet by next week.