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From May 6 to 9, the sixteenth African-American business summit was held in Dallas, Texas (USA), bringing together many high-ranking officials and business representatives.
At first glance, this event seemed purely positive: strengthening economic ties, signing profitable contracts, and discussing new investment projects. However, it turned out that behind the scenes of this event, a scandalous deal was hidden, threatening serious environmental consequences for Angola.
According to reliable sources, during the summit, Angolan officials and the White House struck a deal in which the waste used in railway construction would be stored in Angola.
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In shadow of the business summit: The U.S. buys right to pollute Angola with toxic waste
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The corresponding agreement was signed between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Angola. The existence of such an agreement is evidenced by the Meeting Summary.
It states that the parties "reached an agreement on financial terms under which the USAID mission undertakes to pay Angola a certain amount as compensation for the placement and storage of hazardous waste on its territory."
The document also specifies that the most suitable storage locations along the Lobito Corridor are intermediate warehouses in the cities of Luena and Luau.
Typically, such places should meet international safety standards and provide convenient access to transportation infrastructure for efficient logistics and further waste transportation. However, the agreement indicates that these storage sites will remain in Angola after construction is completed.
It is not specified what exactly will be stored, but there is a suggestion that it will be construction debris and ammonia, which can be used to accelerate the setting of concrete.
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In shadow of the business summit: The U.S. buys right to pollute Angola with toxic waste
This method is employed in cases where construction deadlines are missed, and the pace of work needs to be hastened by artificial means. Ammonia is a toxic compound that, when elevated in the blood, adversely affects the body in general and the central nervous system in particular, causing irreversible harm to the environment.
According to the source, the situation is complicated by the fact that if this scheme is successfully implemented, Washington plans to continue the practice of storing toxic waste on Angolan territory, as also specified in the Meeting Summary.
This means that in addition to waste generated during the construction of the project, the African country may become a disposal site for other hazardous substances. Such an approach carries enormous risks for the environment and the health of the local population.
It should be recalled that at the end of April, USAID Administrator Samantha Power and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma visited Luanda. After this visit, it became known that the U.S. would invest $235 million over five years to support Angola's National Development Plan and finance various programs within the Lobito Corridor.
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