In
the latest report released by Greenpeace, the advocacy group accuses the
Shenhua Group, which mines a majority of the China’s coal, of knowingly
discharging poisonous wastewater into local water supplies.
China’s
new leadership is already under heavy pressure to reform pollution standards
and address growing concerns over the dwindling state of the environment. The
government cancelled plans to construct a $6bn (£4bn) uranium processing plant
after riots and protests broke out in the streets.
Although
the government is facing increased scrutiny, a few companies are still managing
to slip through the cracks. According to Greenpeace, Shenhua’s coal-to-liquid
processing facility outside Ordo City has drained more than 50m tonnes of
groundwater from the Haolebaoji region since 2006.
That’s
water that very poor, very hungry and thirsty people should be entitled to.
But
not only is Shenhua sucking up available resources, its poisoning what’s
left. Greenpeace claims that, after 11 trips
to the region between March and July of this year, their scientists discovered
frightening levels of toxic chemicals and other carcinogenic compounds in
discharged wastewater and nearby sediment.
"Shenhua
claims its coal-to-liquid project has 'low water consumption' and 'zero
discharge'. Our investigation proves these claims are false," says Deng
Ping, a member of Greenpeace East Asia. "Shenhua's practices are violating
Chinese water resource principles and laws controlling industrial waste water
discharge."
As
a result, farmers are being forced to relocate. Residents are being forced
travel farther for drinking water. Companies like Shenhua are uprooting
peaceful communities, destroying families, and maybe even taking lives. Who
knows what the long-term effects of drinking tainted water could be?
The
coal-to-liquid facility in question is able to produce 1.08m tonnes of
petrochemicals per year, and even plans to expand to 5m tonnes in the near
future. But all of this increased activity would take a toll on the surrounding
environment. Water use would triple – skyrocketing to 41m tonnes - by 2017, the
report states.
What
happens when the water’s all used up?
Some
companies don’t seem concerned with that question at all. Instead, they’re
thinking about quarterly reports. Profits. Bonuses. And with slowing growth in the
energy sector, China's coal companies are pursuing new markets.
“More
than 100 coal chemical projects are currently waiting for approval,” says Li
Yan, Greenpeace’s climate and energy manager. "That’s why we chose to
stand out against a big iconic project like Shenhua coal-to-liquid at this time
as it's still possible that some major decisions can be shifted because of
environmental concerns."
Remember:
it’s never too late to make a difference. Start fighting for the environment.
Because the environment can’t fight for itself.
[Shenhua
Group, Greenpeace East Asia, Li Yan, nrglab, nrglab pte ltd, nrglab asia,
China, nrglab Singapore, nrglab Сингапур, Ana Shell nrglab ]
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