Acceptable Risk?

Acceptable Risk? How the security threat in Cabo Delgado was ignored for the benefit of ‘The Netherlands Ltd.

Knoote and Rosenhard, ‘Acceptable Risk? How the security threat in Cabo Delgado was ignored for the benefit of ‘The Netherlands Ltd.’, June 2024, Millieudefensie and Both Ends.

Please access the full study below or access via the Milieudefensie website

Key findings from the report:

• Atradius DSB’s review process for export insurance drives approval. Stakeholders seem so determined to get the green light for the project that they ignore the human lives at stake.
• To this day, it is unclear if and how the Dutch State can withdraw the issued €1 billion export credit insurance. The ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance say withdrawal is legally impossible, but refuse to provide insight into the contract terms.
• The ministries had serious concerns about security in the area beforehand. After strong pressure from TotalEnergies, the export credit insurance was approved anyway.
• Atradius DSB and the Dutch ministries made the security situation in Cabo Delgado look better than it was by withholding worrying information. This is remarkable because FoI documents show that concerns were expressed within Atradius DSB and the ministries. In 2018, Atradius DSB staff visited the project site. For security reasons, it was decided to do this by solely flying over by helicopter, wearing bulletproof vests.
• It is highly implausible that the Dutch ministries did not know about the Palma Attacks before they made them public. They must have had the option of withdrawing from the project.
• The government put up every conceivable barrier to obtaining information about its involvement in the project. The Ministry of Finance has already been fined more than 50,000 euros for delays in processing FoI requests.

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