Trafigura and the Probo Koala

In 2006 Trafigura chartered the Probo Koala, a tanker, to carry coker naphtha. The vessel carried out a procedure for caustic washing on several such cargoes and needed to treat a relatively small amount of residual waste (often referred to as ‘slops’). The discharge and treatment of slops and waste materials from all vessels, including crude oil and product carriers, is an everyday occurrence around the world.

‘...the slops could at worst have caused a range of short term low-level flu like symptoms and anxiety’

- Leigh Day (representing Ivorian claimants) and Trafigura, Agreed Joint Statement, 19th September 2009
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‘From where I sit and from what I have seen of the [Court] papers, the Joint Statement is 100% truthful.’

- Mr Justice MacDuff in reference to the Leigh Day & Co and Trafigura, Agreed Joint Statement, 23rd September 2009
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‘Any suggestion that the draft September 2006 report was anything other than an initial desktop study... would be wholly incorrect.’

- John Minton, of Minton, Treharne & Davies, 20th October 2009
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‘I have been following what has been happening in the media both in the newspapers and on TV and radio. I have witnessed myself how wildly inaccurate some of the statements have been.’

- Mr Justice MacDuff, 23rd September 2009
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‘Our item headlined ‘Success for the Guardian’ erroneously linked the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast from a vessel chartered by Trafigura with the deaths of a number of West Africans.’

- The Guardian, 6th May 2010
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‘We wish to make clear that the dumping was not carried out by Trafigura as the article may have suggested but by an independent local contractor without Trafigura’s authority or knowledge.’

- Times Online, 30th April 2010
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'Speaking for myself, I hope the press that have made statements which have been wrong will take note of the Joint Statement.'

- Mr Justice MacDuff, September 23, 2009
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‘The BBC withdraws the allegation that deaths, miscarriages or serious or long-term injuries were caused by the waste and apologises to Trafigura for having claimed otherwise’.

- BBC, May 15th 2009
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‘...the chemicals, especially mercaptans have strong smells at low concentrations [and are] detectable by the human nose at concentrations far below danger levels. This may give a false impression of toxicity.’

- UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), 18th September 2006
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Interactive timeline of events

Scroll through this timeline for access to key facts and figures relevant and material to our stakeholders

2006
2007
- February
  - Agreement between Trafigura and the Ivorian Government
  - Release of Trafigura executives
- July
  - Trafigura serves defence against Leigh Day & Co
2008
2009
- May
  - BBC broadcasts defamatory Newsnight report
- July
  - WSP publishes independent report
- September
- October
  - The 'Super-injunction' and The Guardian
- December
  - BBC broadcasts apology to Trafigura
2010
2011
- April
  - Greenpeace Complaint dismissed in The Hague's Court of Appeal
- December
  - Dutch Appeal Court decision

The Probo Koala, a 40,000 tonne Ore Bulk Oil carrier, chartered by Trafigura.

Trafigura and the Probo Koala

Interactive timeline of events

The Probo Koala Journey

The Probo Koala's Design

Latest News

Oil

Ferrous

Trafigura Foundation