3. Memorandum submitted by British
Geological Survey
NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE REBUILDING OF IRAQ:
A SUBMISSION BY THE BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
1. The British Geological Survey (BGS) is
the UK national geological survey and a component institute of
The Natural Environment Research Council. This document mainly
addresses three of the topic headings referred to in the briefing
notes:
— the state of civilian infrastructure,
especially water and electricity supplies
— availability of resources
THE NEED
FOR KNOW-HOW
2. Geological knowledge underpins construction
and development. In Britain, geological understanding fuelled
the development of the industrial revolution by aiding the discovery
of raw materials and at the same time ensuring that transport
infrastructure developed to keep pace with the needs of industry.
Today, the use of geological data and associated knowledge is
often unobserved but ensures that we are able to plan and regulate
building; remediate brownfield/contaminated land; assist in the
sitting and predict the behaviour of waste disposal sites and
civil engineering projects; protect and regulate groundwater resources
in terms of quality and quantity; and assist in predicting the
impacts of sea-level rise, landslides, agriculture and climate
change.
3. It is similarly true today that geological
knowledge and data must necessarily form an important part of
any post-conflict work in Iraq because, as stated by Pekka Haavisto,
the chairman of the UNEP desk study on the environment in Iraq
"Many environmental problems in Iraq are so alarming that
an immediate assessment and a clean-up plan are needed urgently.
The environment must be fully integrated into all reconstruction
plans if the country is to achieve a strong and sustainable recovery"
4. The UNEP report stresses the need for
urgent measures to address humanitarian issues and sets priorities
as being:
— restoring the water supply and sanitation
systems
— cleaning-up possible pollution "hot
spots"
— cleaning-up waste sites to reduce
the risk of disease epidemics from accumulated municipal and medical
wastes.
— conducting scientific assessment
of sites struck with weapons containing depleted uranium (DU).
— Distributing pamphlets immediately
to military and civilian personnel, and to the general public,
on how to minimise the risk of accidental exposure to DU.
5. In addition to these immediate priorities,
UNEP highlights the need to integrate environmental protection
into the wider post-conflict clean-up and reconstruction process.
In the words of UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer: "Environmental
protection is a humanitarian issue: not only do environmental
hazards threaten human health and well-being, but they can impede
aid operations." Recommendations include conducting environmental
impact assessments; applying environmentally friendly technologies
for major reconstruction projects; and maximising the exchange
of information between key stakeholders to avoid accidental further
risks to human health and the environment.
THE NEED
FOR AN
IRAQI GOVERNMENT
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
FUNCTION
6. Regulation of the natural environment
and its exploitation are vital elements of good governance. It
is especially important in developing and post-conflict countries
where there often is a strong economic and social dependence on
natural resources. In most countries, a geological survey is the
agency of this regulatory function. It underpins and enables development
to ensure environmental sustainability in areas of:
— Water quality (especially locating
and protecting groundwater for drinking)
— Industrial and domestic waste disposal
(including prevention of groundwater contamination from untreated
sewage)
— Food security and quality
— Industrial minerals (aggregate and
cement materials for domestic rebuilding)
7. The geological survey function of government
involves both information (data) and know-how (skills). In Iraq,
a good deal of the information has been destroyed or lost, and
many of the skilled staff are gone or need retraining. Institutional
strengthening of the Iraq Geological Survey (IGS), to enable it
to fulfil its important role, is urgent. In the present situation
in Iraq, an efficient IGS is needed to ensure:
— Export earnings to help pay for the
reconstruction.
— The integration and dissemination
of environmental and contextual data to planners and NGOs.
— Domestic consumption, especially
building materials, water supplies and power generation and for
social development/good governance in a sustainable and environmentally
aware manner.
— The provision of employment, especially
for young workers.
— Maintenance of human health particularly
the poor and disadvantaged.
— Protection of the environment and
natural heritage of Iraq.
— Sustainable development of agriculture.
WHY CAN'T
THE PRIVATE
SECTOR (EG
OIL OR
MINING COMPANIES)
DEVELOP THE
RESOURCES?
8. There is common misconception that the
private sector can manage the exploitation of natural resources.
Whereas the role of companies is important (eg in mineral extraction),
control and regulation of this sector must remain a responsibility
of government, viz:
— The management of water resources,
especially in an arid environment is of fundamental importance
to health, agriculture and industry. Without regulation, the indiscriminate
drilling of boreholes and over-abstraction can quickly result
in permanent damage to the aquifer and derogation of existing
supplies. Care is also needed to prevent aquifer contamination
through inappropriate siting of boreholes (eg near to chemical
plants, sewage plants).
— Resource development is often a balance
between the conflicting interests of companies, who want easy
and fast returns, and the nation, which needs sustainable and
environmentally sensitive developments that maximise the benefits
for the common good. In most countries this is achieved through
licensing and permits awarded to companies by the state, usually
on the advice of its geological survey organisation. Such advice
requires a basic knowledge of the resource potential and the environment,
its use and sensitivities.
— Mineral resources can contribute
significantly to the local and national economy, foreign revenue
and employment. But in order to attract investment, and compete
with other countries in the global marketplace, it is essential
to promote the sector by making available basic geological and
environmental information, and providing an efficient state interface
to the commercial sector and NGOs participating in the reconstruction
effort.
— Licences and permits are awarded
and monitored according to geological, social, environmental and
legal factors, ensuring that the state receives a fair return
through royalties or taxes. Mining and petroleum laws and a fair/efficient
fiscal regime are clear examples of some of the regulatory tools
required during the post reconstruction period.
WHAT COULD
HAPPEN IF
POORLY REGULATED
DEVELOPMENT IS
ALLOWED TO
TAKE PLACE
AS AN
EMERGENCY MEASURE?
9. Some of the likely consequences of unregulated
development are:
— The unsustainable practices of the
past will continue, leading to widespread pollution and destruction
of the natural environment on which sustainable livelihoods depend.
— Inappropriate mining can pollute
the environment, including surface and sub-surface water, and
damage the health of workers and of the surrounding communities.
— Groundwater resources can quickly
become depleted, polluted or contaminated. This can happen when
well-meaning, but technically uniformed, NGOs or charitable organisations
take only a local rather than a regional view.
— Valuable reconstruction funds will
be wasted on the development of inappropriate and unsustainable
technologies
— Effects of pollution from domestic,
industrial and military will continue to impact on the environment
and human health, and without prompt appropriate action these
impacts will cause irreversible damage to groundwater and agriculture.
WHERE DOES
THE BGS FIT
IN?
10. The British Geological Survey is well
placed to assist for a variety of technical and political reasons:
(a) technical:
— BGS has the experience and skilled
staff to support a policy of data recovery, institutional strengthening
though training, technology transfer and provision of advice in
the rebuilding of the Iraq Geological Survey.
— It is widely perceived as one of
the leading national geological surveys with a reputation for
impartiality, confidentiality, reliability and value for money.
— Despite the important contribution
that BGS can make towards humanitarian relief through economic
development, water supplies, waste disposal, contaminated land,
employment, social order, good governance, environmental sustainability,
and economic growth, current DFID policy appears to remain intractably
opposed to this sector, possibly as a consequence of lack of proper
understanding of the role of geoscience.
— BGS continues to have a significant
impact both at an international level through the WHO and Royal
Society and a more local level through the MOD on the study of
the environmental fate and health issues associated with the use
of Depleted Uranium. Our applied scientific contribution to this
issue in Iraq would greatly benefit from the support of other
government Agencies such as DFID and the MOD.
(b) political
— BGS (through NERC) is a non-Departmental
Government Body and hence would be seen to be acting directly
in a HMG support capacity
— BGS has links with the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) who would appear to be eager to work
with us. However, in the absence of UN involvement, and hence
World Bank funding, BGS cannot participate as it is not eligible
to receive USAID funds
— BGS has historical, professional
links with several Iraqi geologists and is likely to be more acceptable
to Iraqi sensitivities than other nations' geological surveys,
not least because of recent and on-going BGS work in Jordan, Palestine,
Morocco, Mauritania and the UAE.
However, BGS cannot participate without identified
UK Government (DfID) financial support.
WHY NOT
LEAVE THIS
TO THE
USA?
11. A "stand by and watch" policy
is likely to have the following consequences:
— As things now stand, it is likely
that the USGS will act alone, funded by the US Government or through
USAID. The risk is that USGS solutions might favour US oil, mining
and water industries by adopting a "US-friendly" set
of codes and regulations.
— Whilst a strong base of Iraq public-good
lies in the development of natural resources, if the balance of
advantage is perceived to favour US companies' interests, credence
could be given to the claim that the war was motivated by oil
interests, with obvious reputational damage to HMG.
— Longer term scientific and technical
relationships between UK institutions, industry and universities
and the Iraq oil, minerals and water sectors would be impaired.
We can be fairly sure that non-UK/US geoscience organisations
for example those of France, are waiting in the wings to "advise
and assist" Iraq in support of national interest to their
industries and educational/research organisations.
BACKGROUND NOTE
ON BGS
12. BGS is the oldest national geological
survey in the world, founded in 1835, and is widely respected
for its excellence, impartiality and professionalism. It has worked
in over 90 (mostly developing) countries. BGS has extensive experience
in all the fields mentioned in this memorandum.
13. BGS is part of the Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC) which reports through the Office of Science
and Technology to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
BGS receives approximately 50% of its operational funding through
the Science Vote, but its overseas work relies entirely on other
sources of funding, such as DFID, the World Bank and the EU. Funding
from DFID has declined dramatically in recent years as its policy
objectives have moved away from supporting geoscience development
in developing countries.
14. Further information on BGS activities
and capabilities can be obtained from David Ovadia, Director of
International and Corporate Development, British Geological Survey,
Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG. Telephone 0115 936 3465, fax 0115
936 3474, e-mail d.ovadia@bgs.ac.uk The BGS web site is www.bgs.ac.uk
29 May 2003
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