No cause for radiation alarm in Malawi, Paladin hits back at French activist
Uranium miner Paladin has hit back at French nuclear physicist Bruno Chareyron who after visiting the Kayerekera Mine in the northern district of Karonga warned that people living and working around the site risk contracting radioactive related diseases.
Paladin’s General Manager for Malawi, Greg Walker told Nyasa Times in a statemen that there is no risk to the miner’s employees or the community posed by radiation from Kayelekera Mine, which is comparable with background radiation found in many parts of the world.
Walker said it was irresponsible to suggest otherwise and unfortunate that the French expert should unnecessarily alarm people.
“It is unfortunate that Mr Chareyron seemed intent on arousing concerns over alleged health and safety issues arising from mining activities at Kayelekera,” said Walker.
The Australian miner labelled comments by Chareyron as “confrontational” concerning alleged radiation-associated health risks faced by Kayelekera employees and the community around Kayelekera Mine, which Paladin refutes.
“It is regrettable that – rather than bringing an objective and analytical perspective to the debate – since arriving in Malawi this week, Mr Chareyron merely has repeated several of the misleading and sensationalist claims made in recent weeks by local NGO activists opposed to the release of treated surplus run-off water stocks at Kayelekera Mine,” Walker said.
He said it was “disappointing” considering the fact that Chareyron made his comments after he visited Kayelekera Mine on Tuesday, 24 February 2015, when he was given the opportunity to see for himself preparations and safeguards made for the water release programme and to discuss associated issues with Company and government environmental experts.
Walker said claims concerning radiation risks to employees and the community are “ unfounded and alarmist”.
“Chareyron has referred to spillage from the run-off dam on 05 January 2015, which did not occur, and to the Company having ‘a huge accumulation of radioactive waste at the mining area,’ which is simply untrue.
“ Chareyron questioned the decision by the [government of Malawi] to use the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for uranium content in drinking water as the standard for the discharge licence granted to Paladin, although this is widely recognized as a benchmark. Paladin believes that if Mr Chareyron has an issue with this standard, it is a matter he should properly take up with the WHO.”
He explained that employees at Kayelekera Mine are being exposed to radiation levels that are much less than the international limit for occupational doses and which are comparable to dose levels that can be found – due to natural background radiation – in many other parts of the world.
“To suggest that Kayelekera Mine employees, or the community, should require treatment or compensation for health risks associated with exposure to such low level occupational radiation is simply imprudent and misleading,” said Walker.
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Walker should face crimes against humanity charges!
The French scientist has done his job well and if paladin has some dissatisfactions they should file a defamation case against the independent environmentalist instead of vomiting out some denials to the media. In my views Mr Chareyron is candid and can not risk a lawsuit against him by saying something that would lead a big company like paladin to loose it’s business of which he would be expected to pay if his findings are proved to be untrue and worse enough he can be stripped of his profession by loosing his practice license. Therefore I regard Walker as an… Read more »
The north used to be dead in Kamuzu’s days. Reading this article I am left to believe the north hasn’t woken up. Imagine we have influential people in both private and government like Goodall Gondwe and the Dr. Mtumbuka’s – yet vikubekako waka nthe, while peoples lives are in danger.
Koma vikamayankhula as if vikumanya vinthu, always boasting za masambiro. Idiots! Wake up and help your people!
THE MALAWI PALADIN BOSS IS EQUIVALENT TO BOKOHARAM & ISIS
This leared French is calling a spade by its name its up to us Mw to act on the advise, this miner is profit oriented
Kodi Ku Malawi tilibe oti angapange handle issues imeneyi? These foreigners cannot say anything to benefit us. They are always exploitative.
This Walker guy is just dumb and he thinks he can convince us all that the mine is not a hazard. The expert opinion now tells us otherwise mines in the third world are a serious health hazard.The radio active materials that are now lying around will for ever impact on the surrounding communities through air and water. Crazy stuff. This article too seems to be written just to give Walker space, it’s not right
THE SCIENTIST HAS DONE HIS PART.NOW WE WANT OUR GOVT TO TEL US WHAT IS DE TRUTH.ATUPELE MUST OPEN UP OR RESIGN FROM THE POST OF MIN OF MINES.WALKER MUST KEEP QUIET 4 NOW
Radiation, you say?
W need honest people like that french specialist coz knows hw hard the side effects are, U. Used to say dead north but ur now reaping from it on overdose basis, don’t take uis for granted coz even if u give scons but our god will deal with u as it happened with Bingu Wamuthalika. Hw come insulting us on our own mother land