4 pages areva in africa - survie
TRANSCRIPT
Survie is an association that conducts information and advocacy campaigns for a drastic reform of French policy in Africa, aimed at citizens and elected representatives.
For Survie, development issues and poverty in developing countries have primarily political causes
which require a political response. Each of us needs to challenge his/her elected representatives and demand control of the political choices made in his/her name.
Join our 1700 members and one of our 24 local groups and participate in the spread of its independent, critical, alternative information through its monthly journal Billets d’Afrique. Your
contribution provides us with financial independence to perform research and to develop publications.
In view of Areva being a majority state-owned corporation, we put forward the following demands:
♦ an immediate suspension of all mining projects until an independent environmental and health assessment, responsible to both the host state and the population affected, is made of all of Areva's operations; we should expect that Areva would conform to French regulations on the impacts of mining.
♦ payment of taxes or contributions by Areva to host states, entrusted to an independent management structure that will ensure rehabilitation of sites after extraction, and cleanup of operating sites and their surroundings (this should include containment of tailings and radioactive waste, collection of waste and contaminated scrap metal, securing of safe water for local population, etc.)
♦ respect the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, particularly on the need for the close involvement of local people in decisions related to management of water resources and use of land.
♦ set up a fund for all ex-miners and people living close to the mines, in addition to provision of a complete medical examination, a retrospective assessment of radioactive doses incurred, a long-term health monitoring system conducted by independent medical organizations, and the compensation for damage suffered.
What our organisations demand from Areva:
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What Survie demands from the French institutions:
♦ Put an end to the various military, diplomatic and financial support mechanisms used by France to support dictatorships and other authoritarian or corrupt regimes. For decades they have been complicit in France’s extraction of strategic resources.
♦ Urgently introduce binding legislation on the environmental and social responsibility of French companies, by extending their legal responsibility to their foreign subsidiaries. and, by leading by example, pressure the EU and other countries to do the same.
♦ Urgently introduce binding legislation on fiscal transparency, forcing multinationals to issue country by country accounts for their activities in each jurisdiction where they operate.
♦ Strengthen the struggle against corruption, for example by the elimination of bank secrecy and tax havens, and through ensuring the automatic transmission of tax information between jurisdictions.
Since 1997, the network Sortir du nucléaire (Get out of nuclear power) represents a majority position in public opinion: France must abandon nuclear energy and start promoting energy
efficiency and renewable energy sources. Our role is to bring together all those wishing to see a nuclear phase-out. Our charter aims at achieving concrete results. More than 900 groups and 50,000 people have already signed. In 2012, the network consists of a team of over 30 volunteers and employees, hundreds of resource people, tens of thousands of activists and supporters in France and around the world who demand change ... Why not you?
Join Sortir du nucléaire !
www.sortirdunucleaire.org
This campaign is an alliance of a number of organisations which challenge Areva, France, the European Union and the international community to face their respective responsibilities. It campaigns against the disastrous consequences of French energy choices in Europe, and supports those in Niger who pay the price.
This is a network for solidarity and action. The alliance works with those affected and supports them in their fight for the recognition of their rights, dignity and fundamental liberties.
Join the campaign to stop Areva making its own rules in Niger
areva.niger.free.fr
AREVA in Africa
107, Bd de Magenta
75 010 PARIS
survie.org
01 44 61 03 25
Rédaction, maquette : Raphaël Granvaud, Anne Roussel, Juliette Poirson, Danyel Dubreuil, Thomas Noirot, Stéphanie Dubois de Prisque Imprimé par 3A, 1er tirage : 8 000 exemplaires (février 2012)
For 40 years, France has justified its nuclear
power industry by claiming it brings the country “energy
independence”. Yet, even before the closure of the last
uranium mine on French soil in 2001, the fuel for French
nuclear plants was largely imported. Now all of it is
imported. Although uranium now comes
from different countries, African uranium
has always been indispensable for running
French nuclear power plants.
How then can France speak about energy
independence? It’s simple. French leaders
consider that the former French colonies
continue to belong to France. And the price
France pays for uranium is so low that it
almost fails to show in the official figures.
The nuclear euphoria downgraded
"In France, we don’t have oil, but we do have nuclear power."
From 2006 uranium prices began to explode as a
result of speculation. Areva responded by expanding its
mining investments, especially in Africa. With the help of
official and informal networks the company purchased new
companies and won new contracts – some with secret
clauses – in the Central African Republic, Niger, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa and
Namibia.
The price has since tumbled and Areva’s profits have been
revised downwards since the end of the boom. Extensive
mining plans are now frozen, until they become profitable
again.
A ‘BLACK FILE’ BOOK ON THE TOPIC
Raphael Granvaud details the conditions under which France and Areva procure uranium at the lowest price, at the cost of political interference and environmental, health and social disaster for local people. It dispels the myth of French energy independence through nuclear power, since the uranium fueling civil and military nuclear power comes in large part from Africa.
This logic underpins the French policy of uranium
extraction, and the behaviour of Areva, the major French
company involved (formerly Cogema). Areva ran uranium
mines in Gabon and continues to do so in Niger and other
African countries. Its interests were and are still protected
by the Africa unit at the Elysée (presidency)
which sponsors coups and gives strong
support to dictatorial "friends of France".
There regimes were and are more
sympathetic to French economic interests
than concerned about feeding their own
people.
France’s so-called "energy independence"
came at a great price: Energy
"independence" for some, energy poverty
and misery and the loss of sovereignty for
millions of African people.
As usual, the countries in which Areva is invested
receive few financial benefits, showing that the
promise of economic development based on uranium
mining by a foreign company is an illusion.
In the case of Areva, the responsibility rests upon the
French state, its main shareholder. The government now
wants to sell Areva’s mining division, the most profitable
part of the company. Once privatised, the company will be
driven even more by the profit motive and speculation. It
will answer only to the interests of private shareholders.
This is another reason for ending French uranium mining
in Africa.
French organisations exploiting uranium
CEA, created in 1945, (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique), to manufacture
the atomic bomb in secrecy.
↓
COGEMA, created in 1976, 100% owned by CEA, involved in the uranium chain
(from mining to reprocessing)
Framatome, created in 1958, built nuclear reactors in France & sold them to other countries
↓ ↓
AREVA, created in 2001, merger of COGEMA and Framatome
9 rue Dumenge
69317 LYON Cedex 04
sortirdunucleaire.org
04 78 28 29 22
Available in French in bookshops, at Survie or Sortir du Nucléaire
The hidden face of French nuclear power
Key figures Key figures Key figures Key figures 87% of Areva’s shares held by the French state.
1/3 of the uranium needed for the 58 French
nuclear power plants comes from Niger.
1/4 of Areva’s uranium produ ction in 2008 was
extracted in Niger.
Areva’s mining division (the worldwide most
profitable mining division), accounts for 12% of
Areva’s turnover and 40% of gross investments
in 2007-2011.
Niamey, 1974 : a military coup d’Etat in the service of nuclear power
At independence in 1960, the defense agreements between France and its former colonies, including Niger and Gabon, have a clause called "priority supply" for France on raw materials and strategic products, which safeguarded French interests.
Independence under French yoke
1945-1959 France
develops uranium
exploratory missions in
all its African colonies
Formation of the CEA
Formation of Comuf,
CEA’s Gabon
subsidiary, to mine
uranium
Formation of Somaïr,
subsidiary of CEA, to run
the 1st uranium mine
in Niger
1958 1959 1982 1945 1967 1974 1976
Formation of
Cogema
In 2007, the President of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, opened the race for mining permits. Competition among investors was extremely sharp, especially in vying for the giant mine at Imouraren, coveted by Areva. To get it, the latter accepted an increase in uranium prices.
At the beginning of 2009, protests against Mamadou Tandja grew when he was preparing to seek a third term unconstitutionally. In March, Nicolas Sarkozy came to Niamey to "pre-sign" the contract for Imouraren: in order to get the giant mine contract for Areva, France did not hesitate to support Tandja and to accept the trampling on Nigeriens’ constitutional rights.
The EU suspended its cooperation with Niger. Neighbouring countries protested Tandja's third term. France's position becames untenable. On 18 February 2010, when Mamadou Tandja was overthrown by Niger’s
military, Joyandet, the French Secretary of State for Cooperation, immediately announced that there was "no reason to fear that the long-term partnership built by Areva with the Nigerien state and local communities would be disrupted." France apparently knew what was coming and did not dissuade the military from overthrowing a president who was determined to open up the country to Iranian and Chinese interests.
How France preserved its interests in Niger in 2009-2010
South Africa
From 1961, France contributed to civilian and military nuclear program of the apartheid regime, in ex-change for uranium (coming from Namibia, occupied by South Africa). Areva built 2 nuclear power plants and is aiming to build a new one (the EPR).
Namibia The Trekkopje mine is expected to become one of the largest opencast mines in the world. Characteristics: low in uranium; building of a desali-nation plant to process seawater, to
use Italie for treating the rock! This project is currently suspended.
Senegal
Exploration since 2008.
Gabon The Mounana mine was worked from 1961 to 1999. The mine has not been decommissioned and the environmental impacts still continue. Areva might open new mines.
President Mitterrand
visits President Kountche in Niger
Formation of Cominak, subsidiary of CEA, to run
the 2nd uranium mine
in Niger
Military coup in Niger against
President Diori
Algeria
17 French nuclear tests from 1960 to 1966.
Cogema and Areva have always used informal and formal channels of Françafrique:
♦ Former diplomats are put in charge of mining companies: Maurice Delauney, ambassador to Gabon, became CEO of Comuf from 1979 to 1989; Dominique Pin, formerly working at the Africa unit at the Elysee became director of Areva in Niger during the tense period of renegotiation of the price of uranium by Niamey in 2007. He worked at the Elysee at the same time as Anne Lauvergeon, future boss of Areva, was working with President
Mitterrand.
♦ Use of intermediates in Africa, like French MP Patrick Balkany, unofficial emissary particularly for negotiations with the Central African Republic or Belgian national George Forrest in DR Congo, known as the "Viceroy of Katanga"!
♦ Former military or secret agents are commissioned, like Gilles Denamur, former colonel and defence attache at the French Embassy in Niamey, sent in 2007 to Niger by the private company Epée (Sword) responsible for security at Areva’s mines.
Since 1967, France has been extracting Niger's uranium “dirt cheap”. In 1973, the oil crisis and the French decision to accelerate its nuclear program, led President Hamani Diori of Niger to demand higher uranium prices. "Diori reasoned that if Niger could contribute to the exceptional nuclearity of France, then surely France could make exceptional contributions to the economic development of Niger" explains the historian Gabrielle Hecht. Negotiations became strained. On the night of 14 to 15 April1974, Hamani Diori was ousted by a military coup led by Seyni Kountche. The leaders had received pledges of French support prior to their coup. French soldiers refused to intervene despite the existing defence agreement between the two countries.
Areva’s Françafrique networks
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held by the French state.
of the uranium needed for the 58 French
nuclear power plants comes from Niger.
Areva’s uranium produ ction in 2008 was
(the worldwide most
profitable mining division), accounts for 12% of
Areva’s turnover and 40% of gross investments
We condemn the disastrous consequences of French energy choices and Areva’s propaganda. Using huge advertising budgets, the company tells Europe about its "clean energy", and tells Africa about its support to local development of regions, while actually looting them.
In Niger and in Gabon, civil society organisations like Aghir In Man in Arlit, GREN and ROTAB in Niamey, Brainforest in Libreville, denounce uranium mining. In Falea, Mali, ARACF is drawing attention to the consequences of uranium exploration being undertaken by Rockgate, a Canadian company. In these countries there is an absence of public debate about mining issues. Governments ignore critics and Areva buys their silence and the silence of the populations while claiming to spend € 6 million per year on sustainable development activities.
The mobilisation of civil society
Formation of Areva
2003 2001 2005-2007
Areva has continued its operations in Niger through various political crises including the current insecurity. Its presence is even a factor in increasing tensions
in the Sahel-Sahara area. Armed rebels in the 1990s and the 2007-2009 period claimed a share of the profits from uranium mining, reflecting the frustration of
local residents of the mining areas. Areva took advantage of the state of emergency in Northern Niger in 2008 to validate its environmental impact assessment study for
the opening of the Imouraren mine.
At the end of 2010, AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) kidnapped several French expatriates working for Areva and French company Vinci Satom in the heart of the mining town of Arlit. Five are still being held hostage, allowing France to justify strengthening its military presence in Niger and its
neighbours, and extending security provisions of mines by the army of Niger and private companies.
Areva, rebellions and insecurity in Niger
The consequences of 40 years of mining by Cogema and later Areva in Niger are disastrous: they resulted in agro-pastoral land-grabbing around the two mine sites, destruction of fauna
and flora, air contamination by dust and radioactive gases, radioactive contamination of water resources, and short-term irreversible exhaustion of the aquifers. A conspiracy
of silence reigns over the health impact of mining on people. For mine workers, access to care is provided by Areva, whose doctors never diagnose radiation-induced diseases.
In Mounana, Gabon, more than 10 years after the end of mining, radioactive waste is still present in the environment and the health status of populations remains of great concern.
Niger
Over 100,000 tons of uranium extracted during the past 40 years from Arlit, in the Agadez region. The opening of the Imouraren mine is continually postponed since 2009.
DR Congo
In 2009, Areva receives a secret licence to explore the whole DRC, something
never heard of before!
Madagascar Mines operated from 1953 to
1960.
Central African Rep. Mining taking place at Ba-kouma until 1970. After it purchased Uramin in 2006, Areva was supposed to reopen the mine but this
has been suspended.
Areva has sometimes made incompetent business deals. Its acquisition of Canadian-quoted company Uramin in 2007 for €1.8 billion in dubious circumstances
is a perfect example. Registered in the British Virgin Islands, a famous tax haven, Uramin had subsidiaries in Namibia, Central African Republic, Senegal and South Africa. At the end of 2011, when Areva did its accounts, it realised that its losses
on the Uramin deal amounted to €1.9 billion, more than the cost of purchasing the company! A financial audit was instigated by the French National Assembly in
June 2011 to examine the acquisition of Uramin. It is not out of the question that intermediaries received illegal payments to broker the deal.
2009
President Sarkozy
visits Presidents
of Niger and DR Congo
Steep rise in
price of uranium
Areva buys
Uramin
Niger renego-
ciates uranium
contract
President Chirac visits
President Tandja in
Niger
2011 2004
First NGO survey
on impact of uranium
mining in Niger
Areva suspends several mining
projects in Africa, and
decides on the private sale of
its mining division
Areva’s dubious investments
Past uranium mining
Operating uranium mining
Planned uranium mining
Nuclear power plants
Nuclear tests
1999
Uranium mining ends
in Gabon
A social, health and ecological scandal
To go further… Books and reports - F.-X. Verschave, Noir Silence,
Les Arènes (2000) - D. Lorentz, Affaires atomiques, Les Arènes (2001) - Rapports Aghir In Man/CRIIRAD/ Sherpa (2005), Greenpeace (2010) Documentaries
- Uranium, l’héritage empoisonné, D. Hennequin (2009) - Uranium, la Cogema a-t-elle contaminé le Niger? M. Despratx (2005) Web sites
www.rotabniger.org
www.criirad.org www-personal.umich.edu/~hechtg/ Time line Time line Time line Time line