Difference between revisions of "BHP Billiton"
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| − | BHP | + | BHP Billiton is the 100% owner of uranium miner [[Western Mining Corporation]], which owns the Olympic Dam (or Roxby Downs)uranium mine in South Australia. |
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| + | ==Uranium Miner== | ||
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| + | BHP Billiton is one of the world’s top five producers of uranium, but also the world’s second largest exporter of coal. <ref>Our Business, [http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bb/home.jsp BHP Billiton website] accessed December 2007.</ref> | ||
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Olympic Dam has, so far, produced 60 million tonnes of radioactive tailings, and the waste is growing at 10 million tonnes per year, but there are no plans for the long-term management of these toxic tailings. The mine’s daily extraction of over 30 million litres of water from the Great Artesian Basin has adversely impacted on the fragile ecology, and the mine is a large consumer of electricity and a major contributor to South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. [2] | Olympic Dam has, so far, produced 60 million tonnes of radioactive tailings, and the waste is growing at 10 million tonnes per year, but there are no plans for the long-term management of these toxic tailings. The mine’s daily extraction of over 30 million litres of water from the Great Artesian Basin has adversely impacted on the fragile ecology, and the mine is a large consumer of electricity and a major contributor to South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. [2] | ||
The Olympic Dam mine enjoys a range of exemptions from the South Australian Environmental Protection Act, the Water Resources Act, the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Freedom of Information Act. A 2003 Senate inquiry into the regulation of uranium mining in Australia reported “a pattern of under-performance and noncompliance”. It identified many gaps in knowledge and found an absence of reliable data on which to measure the extent of contamination or its impact on the environment, and it concluded that changes were necessary “in order to protect the environment and its inhabitants from serious or irreversible damage”. The committee concluded “that short-term considerations have been given greater weight than the potential for permanent damage to the environment”. [3] | The Olympic Dam mine enjoys a range of exemptions from the South Australian Environmental Protection Act, the Water Resources Act, the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Freedom of Information Act. A 2003 Senate inquiry into the regulation of uranium mining in Australia reported “a pattern of under-performance and noncompliance”. It identified many gaps in knowledge and found an absence of reliable data on which to measure the extent of contamination or its impact on the environment, and it concluded that changes were necessary “in order to protect the environment and its inhabitants from serious or irreversible damage”. The committee concluded “that short-term considerations have been given greater weight than the potential for permanent damage to the environment”. [3] | ||
Revision as of 13:49, 12 December 2007
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This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's focus on the fallout of nuclear "spin." |
BHP Billiton (BHPB) is an international mining firm which describes itself as "the world's largest diversified resources company." It mainly deals in minerals and petrochemicals. In 2006, BHPB's profits exceeded US$10 billion.
BHPB is a dual listed company, made up of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc - the dual company status resulting from a 2001 merger. The global headquarters are in Melbourne, Australia. [1]
BHPB has been accused of environmental vandalism, displacing indigenous people, and unfair union controls. [1]
Contents
Climate Change
In June 2007, in response to concerns about global warming, BHPB announced that it would commit US$300 million "over the next five years to support the development of low emissions technology and to encourage emissions abatement," reported Reuters. BHPB "also set fresh targets to reduce the energy and greenhouse intensity of its projects by 2012. ... BHP was on track to beat a target of a five percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production by end-June 2007, and had set a target of a further 6 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2012." [2]
Subsidiaries
BHP Billiton is the 100% owner of uranium miner Western Mining Corporation, which owns the Olympic Dam (or Roxby Downs)uranium mine in South Australia.
Uranium Miner
BHP Billiton is one of the world’s top five producers of uranium, but also the world’s second largest exporter of coal. [2]
Olympic Dam has, so far, produced 60 million tonnes of radioactive tailings, and the waste is growing at 10 million tonnes per year, but there are no plans for the long-term management of these toxic tailings. The mine’s daily extraction of over 30 million litres of water from the Great Artesian Basin has adversely impacted on the fragile ecology, and the mine is a large consumer of electricity and a major contributor to South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. [2] The Olympic Dam mine enjoys a range of exemptions from the South Australian Environmental Protection Act, the Water Resources Act, the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Freedom of Information Act. A 2003 Senate inquiry into the regulation of uranium mining in Australia reported “a pattern of under-performance and noncompliance”. It identified many gaps in knowledge and found an absence of reliable data on which to measure the extent of contamination or its impact on the environment, and it concluded that changes were necessary “in order to protect the environment and its inhabitants from serious or irreversible damage”. The committee concluded “that short-term considerations have been given greater weight than the potential for permanent damage to the environment”. [3]
Personnel
- Don Argus, Chairman
- Marius Kloppers, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
- Alex Vanselow, Chief Financial Officer
- [3][4]
Former personnel
- Chip Goodyear, Chief Executive Officer
- Tom Harley, President Corporate Development
- Ian Wood, Vice-President of Sustainable Development and Community Relations
Contact details
Australia:
BHP Billiton Limited
BHP Billiton Centre
180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone: (61) 1300 55 47 57
Fax: (61 3) 9609 3015
Web: http://www.bhpbilliton.com
United Kingdom:
BHP Billiton Plc
Neathouse Place
Victoria
London SW1V 1BH
Phone: (44 20) 7802 4000
Fax: (44 20) 7802 4111
Resources
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ Our Structure, BHP Billiton, accessed December 2007.
- ↑ Our Business, BHP Billiton website accessed December 2007.
- ↑ Group Management Committee, BHP Billiton, accessed December 2007.
- ↑ Our Board, BHP Billiton, accessed December 2007.
External articles
- Peter Crush, "CSR: Let actions speak louder than words", PR Week, September 16, 2005. (Sub req'd).
- Burton, Bob. BHP admits Ok Tedi mine is environmental disaster, Asian Times Online, 17 September 2006.
- Friends of the Earth Brisbane, BHP AGM: Olympic Dam will continue to operate outside law, 29 November 2006.
- "BHP Billiton to Take More Action on Climate Change," Reuters, June 19, 2007.
External resources
- Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, BHP Billiton resources, accessed February 2004.
