Namibian smelter expansion risks deepening environmental and health problems
July 17, 2017
As it nears two years of a Bankwatch visit to the copper smelter in Namibia and the uncovering of an unsafe arsenic disposal site, a planned expansion has revealed so far undisclosed environmental information.
Comments on Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for the Tsumeb smelter in Namibia
May 29, 2017
Dirty Precious Metals: Dumping European Toxic Waste in Tsumeb, Namibia
August 10, 2016
Based on a visit to Namibia this report assesses the environmental and social standards at the Tsumeb smelter, acquired by Canadian Dundee Precious Metals in 2010. The smelter specialises in working with some of the dirtiest copper concentrates half of
Dundee denies chemical poison claims
January 19, 2016
Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) says the international environment watchdog CEE Bankwatch is making false and misleading claims about exposure to arsenic as alleged by the town’s people. DPM argues that Bankwatch’s claims are not supported by the regular health surveys conducted in Tsumeb under the supervision of the Namibian government and independent medical specialists. Bankwatch said in a statement issued on December 22, 2015 that information available to it “shows that arsenic levels have been way above safe limits defined by health institutions.”
Health reports confirmed widespread over-exposure to toxic arsenic at Tsumeb smelter in Namibia
December 22, 2015
Following Bankwatch’s revelations about toxic pollutants at the Tsumeb smelter in Namibia, the smelter’s owner, Canadian mining company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM), contested our findings in Namibian news reports. Without substantiating its claims with facts, however, and in light of the results of local health surveys the company’s reassurances ring hollow and meaningless.
Exporting toxic pollution from Europe to Namibia
December 17, 2015
The case of the Tsumeb smelter in Namibia demonstrates how European pollution is being exported to the Global South with the indirect help of public development money.
Bankwatch sê Dundee belieg publiek
December 7, 2015
Die internasionale nie-regeringsorganisasie CEE Bankwatch Network sê Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) onderspeel doelbewus die gevare van anorganiese arseentrioksied, ’n neweproduk van die smeltingsproses van koper by die smeltery op Tsumeb. In werklikheid, wys Bankwatch daarop, het die VSA se Agentskap vir Gifstowwe en Siekteregister arseentrioksied as “een van die giftigste en algemene vorme van arseen” geklassifiseer.
Bankwatch statement on hazardous arsenic waste in Dundee operations in Namibia
December 1, 2015
Last week Namibian news outlets reported on Bankwatch’s findings on the potential impacts of Dundee Precious Metals’ (DPM) operations in the country. Yet, in light of the company’s response we believe a number of points need to be stressed.
Ministerie sê oor Dundee-stortingsterrein
November 30, 2015
Die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme is bewus van die terrein by die Dundee Precious Metals-aanleg op Tsumeb waar arseen in groot sakke in die wind en weer lê en meen ’n langtermynoplossing is die totale verwydering van alle materiale wat tans daar geberg word. Só het die omgewingskommissaris van die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme, mnr. Teofilus Nghitila, Donderdag gesê in reaksie op ’n artikel in ’n dagblad na aanleiding van ’n internasionale verslag. In dié verslag word aangevoer dat Dundee arseen op ’n oop perseel “opgaar” voordat dit verkoop en uitgevoer word.
Dundee brushes off poisoning claims
November 25, 2015
The Tsumeb-based mining company responded yesterday to questions sent by Namibian Sun on Monday, following an article that was published by international non-government (NGO) group BankWatch which claimed that the waste disposal site at the Tsumeb Smelter is piling up with arsenic left from the smelting of European ore – sparking fears of soil and water contamination. DPM spokesperson Alina Garises says BankWatch has a long history of being against mining of any sort.
