Trafigura ontkent; ‘gifschip niet zo giftig’

TRAFIGURA PRESS STATEMENT

TRAFIGURA TESTS CONTRADICT MEDIA SPECULATION

London,
24 September – International commodities trading company Trafigura
stated today that contrary to speculation in the media and the activist
communities about residue washings in a recent shipment to Cote
D’Ivoire, tests conducted by the company and others show the washings
themselves to have little or no toxicity. No official analysis results
have yet been publicised but it is anticipated that these, when
released, will support the Company’s own findings. The Company itself
did send a sample of the slops waste discharged from the Probo Koala to
an independent laboratory in Rotterdam (Saybolt). This was one of four
samples taken at the Petroci jetty in Abidjan during discharge.

From this test sample Saybolt determined:

Mercaptan Sulphur – 380 mg / kg
Hydrogen Sulphide <1 (i.e. not detected)
Water 450 mg / kg

Results
from a French analysis of a sample taken near the main site near
Abidjan also show that Hydrogen Sulphide was not present. Trafigura is
aware that an analysis has been performed on samples of the slops waste
taken at Amsterdam by the authorities during the vessel’s visit there.
Trafigura is confident that the results will be consistent in
demonstrating little if any Hydrogen Sulphide. The lack of these
results is delaying the company’s own investigations into the nature of
the incident and hindering its efforts to assist in the clean up
operation in Abidjan.

The slops waste, previously referred to by
the Dutch Authorities as ‘chemical slops’, has been blamed for an
outbreak of sickness and some deaths amongst Abidjan residents. It was
reported to have been dumped by Compagnie Tommy at domestic refuse
sites around the city. Compagnie Tommy is a certified independent
Ivorian disposal company and is not connected to Trafigura in any way.
Compagnie Tommy, who had been referred by WAIBS a local ship agent,
contracted with Trafigura (through their local subsidiary Puma Energy).

It is still unclear exactly what caused the tragedy
in Abidjan. Much of the recent ill-informed debate has centred on the
chemical composition of the ‘slops’, in particular the Hydrogen
Sulphide content that is thought to have been responsible for causing
the ill effects. Trafigura’s own analysis, and that of a French
company, show that Hydrogen Sulphide level was not detected in the
‘chemical slops.’ The release of the official test results are urgently
needed to confirm this. Senior Trafigura director Graham Sharp said:
“Trafigura is proud of its reputation as an ethical and responsible
global business. We take corporate and social responsibilities very
seriously. We comply with all industry and international regulations
for the transport of petroleum products and disposal of residue
washings, and have a stringent compliance programme.

“Trafigura
has worked with West Africa for more than ten years, and continues to
invest in sustainable development and the upgrading of infrastructure,
processing and distribution for the petroleum industry. We have enjoyed
a long standing and warm relationship with the Ivory Coast.

“We
are deeply disappointed that there have been difficulties in obtaining
sample test results held by the Dutch authorities. However, we are
examining all means available to us to obtain the full analysis. It is
unclear as to why there is a delay, but the lack of these results is
hampering our investigations and so preventing us from assisting the
Ivorian authorities, and the International Community, in understanding
the cause of the tragedy in Abidjan and effecting a comprehensive
resolution. We hope that we will have more information soon, so that we
can all concentrate on the important business of helping the Cote
d’Ivoire and the people of Abidjan at this difficult time.”

Amstelveen – Als aanvulling op verschillende onjuiste en incomplete berichten in de media stelt Trafigura het op prijs om nadere mededelingen te doen.

Het gaat om details rond de Probo Koala, in verband met de gifdumping in Abidjan, Ivoorkust, medio augustus.

Gebruik van het schip Probo Koala

Het schip Probo Koala wordt door Trafigura gebruikt voor transportdoeleinden, maar bovendien als drijvende opslagtank, waarin verschillende olieladingen kunnen worden opgeslagen. Aardolie heeft per gebied van herkomst een andere samenstelling en wordt langs verschillende processen geproduceerd in een raffinaderij. Als ladingen gasoline blend stock door schepen van Trafigura worden ingenomen dan worden ze bij ontvangst gereinigd. Dit is een standaard procedure en er wordt gebruik gemaakt van caustic soda om onregelmatigheden te verwijderen. De spoelresten (“Slops”) worden in afvaltanks op het schip opgeslagen. Er zijn dus niet, zoals ten onrechte werd gesuggereerd, aan boord van de Probo Koala allerlei raffinageprocessen uitgevoerd.