Brazil
In Brazil, the construction of Tucurui dam displaced more than 25,000
people. More than half of the power generated by the dam goes to aluminum
smelters in northern Brazil. According to the World Commission on Dams,
“subsistence farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, and riverbank cultivators”
all had to move out of the way for the new reservoir. In addition, 100,000
people were “affected by reduced water quality, loss of riverbed
cultivation, and decreased downstream fish populations.”
“In the case of Tucurui, of the indigenous groups displaced only the
Parakana people were resettled; the other indigenous group that lost land
to the dam was not considered for resettlement benefits,” reported the WCD.
The erection of transmission lines also impacts indigenous communities.
According to the WCD, “the Gavaio de Montanha indigenous people, whose
lands were affected by the transmission lines in the Tucurui project, were
initially not considered eligible for compensation but were later given
cash compensation.”
After the reservoir was filled in 1984, the WCD reported, “an unusual
proliferation of Mansonia mosquitoes in rural areas close to the reservoir
forced farm families to leave their homes.” Another post-construction
impact was the concentration of mercury from gold mining activities
upstream. Fish caught in the reservoir had more than double the maximum
safety level. (World Commission on Dams, “The Report of the World
Commission on Dams; Dams and Development: A New Framework for
Decision-Making,” 2000, p. 106, 107, 119, 124)
Guinea
According to NorWatch, the Friguia bauxite and alumina project in Guinea
“has forcibly moved several villages, but the number of affected people is
unknown. It has been impossible to have details on how much is paid as
compensation when someone is forcibly moved, or how this has been carried
out. In the future even more people will have to move as the mine is being
extended. 16-18,000 people are still living within the concession area. The
local population complains of their cattle being run down by the company’s
cars, and dying from eating remainders of explosive charges which originate
from the mining. They are not paid any compensation.” (Tarjei Leer-Salvesen
and Morten Rønning, “Profits on arms, forced relocation, and environmental
scandals,” NorWatch newsletter, June 1998).
Friguia’s failure to compensate local villagers was reiterated in a local
newspaper report in 1998. According to Africa Energy and Mining, the
newspaper reported that Friguia managers “have been accused of dubious
financial dealings involving over-billing in favor of its suppliers. The
Conakry-based newspaper L’Independant cited a garage, security companies
and real estate owners in connection with the over-billing. It also said
the company had failed to pay village dwellers compensation for having to
re-locate, even
though it claimed to have sent the money to the local authorities.” (“Four
pre-qualified for Friguia,” Africa Energy & Mining, Dec. 2, 1998)
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