Ninety million dollar suit registered against Boliden

Ninety million dollar suit registered against Boliden

Reuters, November 22, 2002

SPAIN: Andalusia's regional government is suing Swedish-Canadian mining company Boliden Ltd. for 89.8-million euros (US$89.9 million) seeking reimbursement for damages and cleanup costs for the 1998 Aznalcollar toxic spill. Nearly seven million cubic metres of toxic sludge and zinc, copper, manganese and cadmium-contaminated water burst from the tailings dam of the Los Frailes mine in Aznalcollar into a river near the Donana National Park, one of Europe's largest nature reserves. The park, inhabited by numerous rare species, serves as an important migratory stopping point for endangered birds. The civil suit comes after a criminal court ruled that 25 people in the case were not criminally responsible. In September, Boliden said it was taking Spanish construction group Dragados to court for 107 million euros (US$107 million) for its role in the disaster.