ArcelorMittal fined EUR 6000 for water pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BOSNIA -- "The Federal Inspectorate has fined ArcelorMittal 13 300 KM [around EUR 6000] for yet another pollution incident in the River Bosna in Bosnia-Herzegovina, just a day after the company reportedly denied that it was the cause of the most recent incident.

Laboratory analysis of samples taken during the pollution incident in the Zenica area has confirmed that the substances involved originated from ArcelorMittal Zenica's slag landfill.

Very high pH values, electrical conductivity of TDS (total dissolved solids) and suspended particles were registered, and the confirmed values of the tested quality parameters are characteristic for waste waters from a tailings basin with slag, according to the analysis.

The results of the published chemical analysis show that wastewater from the slag landfill caused the pollution incident on 15th and 16th August at Banlozi.

The Agency for the Sava River Basin recommends that the Inspectorate bans the discharge of such wastewater into waterways, or that pretreatment is carried out before its release. The Inspectorate is planning to meet with ArcelorMittal next week to discuss wastewater treatment.

Pippa Gallop, Research Co-ordinator, Central and Eastern Europe Bankwatch Network

Read the report

Arcelor Mittal: Penal za ekološki incident 13.300 KM

http://www.bitno.ba/vijesti/bosna-i-hercegovina/potvrdeno-arcelormittal-kriv-za-zagadenje-bosne

Rusty reasoning: groups challenge European Investment Bank to justify the latest ArcelorMittal public millions

Arcelor Mittal operations in Zenica, Bosnia. (Adnan Dzonlic)

LUXEMBOURG -- On 21 October 2009 the European Investment Bank’s board of directors approved a loan to ArcelorMittal worth EUR 250 million for a research and development programme said to be all about bringing environmental added value to the company's European operations. Couldn't a company the size of ArcelorMittal be expected to either fund the project out of its own resources or be able to access commercial loans, leaving advantageous European Investment Bank funding to companies more in need? Frustrated by their dealings with the EIB on these matters, Bankwatch, ClientEarth and Global Action on ArcelorMittal have this week lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary General of the European Investment Bank that questions the rigour and ultimate validity of the bank's pre-loan assessment. Read it here and consider the magnetic pull ArcelorMittal seems to have towards public money.

-- CEE Bank Watch Network

European Investment Bank: No loans for ArcelorMittal

ZAGREB, Croatia -- "We have recently discovered that the EIB is considering a loan for steel company ArcelorMittal and that this will be discussed by the Board of Directors this Wednesday, 21st October. ArcelorMittal has an extremely poor environmental, social and transparency record in many countries, including during projects financed by international financial institutions. As the world’s largest steel company we also believe that ArcelorMittal could access financing from other sources, and that there is no added value in providing a low-interest public loan to the company. We therefore urge the EIB not to approve any loan to ArcelorMittal in the foreseeable future,"

-- Pippa Gallop, CEE Bankwatch Network, Global Action on ArcelorMittal.

• Letter to the European Investment Bank from Global Action
• Letter to the European Commission from Global Action
• Response from the European Investment Bank