Gabon's Dark Side of Dams and Mines
- Download the report (French only, PDF 3MB)
Since 1961, French company Areva has operated four uranium mines at Mounana. Radioactive residues from the mines have contaminated the area’s waterways and soils. During the mine’s first 15 years, radioactive waste was poured directly into the river. The radioactive contamination is the source of the main environmental and medical problems for nearby villagers.
In nearby Moanda, manganese mining is conducted by a subsidiary of French company, Eramet. After the manganese is mined, it is processed at the Industrial Complex of Moanda (CIM) and taken by train to the port of Owendo. Eramet would like to expand production through development of the 200 million Euros Metallurgical Complex of Moanda (CM). The complex would depend on electric power from the Poubara dams.
Two hydrodams, Poubara I (commissioned in 1975) a
Landry Lebas, the report's author said he was shocked to see that local people are never informed or consulted on projects as important as mining or large dams. "I hope that our work will engage public opinion and allow the Gabonese government to realize that it should compel companies to comply with national and international laws but also their social and environmental commitments," he said.
Download the report (in French only)
Read Gabon Awards Contract from Hydroworld (August 2010) [thisarticle refers to Grand Poubara as "Poubara 2"]
Read Tunneling at Grand Poubara, a technical article from International Water Power & Dam Construction (May 2010)
Visit Brainforest, one of Gabon's leading NGO's following dams and natural resource issues