The Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius - what happened and lessons learnt Assessing the long-term effects of a catastrophic oil spill on subtidal coral . Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In most Western countries, such business influences would be considered monopolies or cartels and broken up under anti-competition laws. The Wakashio has exposed the shortcomings of Japans aid to Africa programs. an ecological crime against their country. Why the Mauritius oil spill is so serious. August 22, 2020 1 Overview The MV Wakashio left China on 14 July, heading for Brazil. The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlightedthe need for global adoptionofinternational legislationthatgovern the seas andprotectsmall islandstatesand their vulnerable marine ecosystemsagainstship pollution,UN trade body UNCTAD has stated. Mitsui had won both phases of the contract. The city of Brumadinhowas devastated when a Vale dam collapsed, and the CEO of Vale was charged with homicide. Through its network of companies, these fossil fuels are then pushed through into long-term shipping and power station infrastructure around the world, undermining many small island states calling for stronger corporate responsibility against the climate crisis. MOL's bulk carrier fleet (that included the Wakashio) transports much of the world's coal, iron ore [+] and other base minerals around the world. Abes practice of tying aid to Japanese businesses, was widely criticized as a soft subsidy to advance large Japanese corporate interests, rather than serving the needs of recipient nations. The stakes could not have been higher with the rising influence of China across the Indian Ocean. Mitsui is one of the largest business conglomerates in Japan, known as Keiretsu. Mitsui OSK described poor weather as a cause for the Wakashio's grounding. Mitsui continues to invest in oil extraction. In October 2020, it was revealed that Warren Buffets Berkshire Hathaway had also taken a 5% stake in Mitsui, with the intention to partner on a range of ventures. There has never been a full independent assessment of the influences or effectiveness of Japans aid programsor their procurement processes, which tend to favor Japanese businesses. The intention was to appeal to small island states to win their influence, by offering the possibility of new economic pathways for these countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation is part of the Mitsui Keiretsu of linked business interests. Yet, executives from [+] Mitsui OSK described poor weather as a cause for the Wakashio's grounding. It also extends to Indias bases abroad. It is by allowing corporate actors in Japan to have gotten away with the oil spill, that has angered Mauritians who are more deeply wedded to the impact on Mauritius marine life than the broader geopolitical concerns going on. Again, if complicity is proven, Mitsui should be blacklisted and barred from participating in all future contracts. It involved illegally obtaining sensitive bid information on what its competitors were pricing their bids at, and allowed BWSC to price its bids appropriately to win the tender. resigned amid an ongoing probe into the murder of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia. Crew of a whaling ship check a whaling gun or harpoon before departure at Ayukawa port in Ishinomaki [+] City on April 26, 2014. Over this period, the intensity of relations between Mauritius and Japan dramatically changed. What the protestors in Mauritius have called for are a compassionate response: not just words, but commensurate actions. In 2012, following the Eurozone crisis, Abe announced a plan to re-launch the Japanese economy. Mitsui E&S Annual Report highlights the impact of its Power Plant division (EPC) on the group's [+] earnings. close panel . Sometimes bad things happen in the worst possible places - like the MV . Oil spill in Mauritius calls for more efforts to safeguard coral reef Some of the largest spills were between 1978 and 1991, and of all the large oil spills reported since 1970, only about 4% occurred after 2010. New satellite analysis by global satellite analytics firm, Windward, reveal for the first time exclusively for Forbes, the extent to which industrial fishing has increased since the 2018 Japan-Mauritius fishing deal. 4 Aug 2021 A man scoops leaked oil from the vessel Wakashio that ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of southeast Mauritius on August 8, 2020 [File: AFP/Jean Aurelio Prudence]. July 22 2012: Naoki Ishii, President of Mitsui's 'MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC,' during the Senate [+] Hearings on the Deepwater Horizon incident. The location of the Mauritian oil spill means the environmental consequences could be long-lasting. Over the past four years, Japan had carefully placed Mauritius at the center of its military, strategic and diplomatic offensive across the Indian Ocean. It is a tale of shady defense deals, opaque aid, high level corruption and powerful corporate interests who wield a stronger influence than the Japanese state. What was even more surprising was the high level of interest Japan suddenly started taking in Mauritius. Protests seen here from 29 November 2019. . Mauritius oil spill: Three clean-up crew die after boat capsizes These principles have proven controversial as shipping pushed through regulations last month that violated the Paris Climate Agreement. Indian Ocean islands like the Seychelles are also confronting the challenge of climate change. Mauritius oil spill: Are major incidents less frequent? - BBC The ban was serious enough that Mitsui E&S (who owned BWSC) had to move from stating how strategically important BWSC was to the group earnings in 2018, to barely mentioning them in the 2020 report. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reveal that the figures for Japans development assistance to Mauritius until 2016 break down into: Much of the $160 million loan includes a $70 million loan for a large sewage system in the tourist town of Grand Baie awarded in 2010, when the current Prime Minister had a 14 month spell as Minister of Finance. These are all new investments, and not the existing revenues from oil, gas and mining investments held by Mitsui. The legacy of the Wakashio is likely to be felt in the Mauritian coastal environment for decades to come. Mitsui uses its shipping division, MOL, to transport much of these fossil fuel products around the world, with major contracts with companies such as Vale. Mauritius races to clean up tons of oil as damaged ship is at risk of relationship with several Mitsui-affiliated companies. Over $280 million had been given to Mauritius (half as loans), with a specific promise last year by Japans recent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, that Japanese radars, boats and infrastructure would prevent a major maritime incident from occurring in Mauritius. and ecological catastrophe that has become a largely Japanese affair. Receive daily updates directly in your inbox -, Mauritius oil spill highlights importance of global maritime laws: UN trade body, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, Transformative power of food production in Mauritius: A UN Resident Coordinator blog, UK must end unlawful administration of Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible, top UN court rules, Pandemic rolled back sustainable development funding for weak economies: UNCTAD, Trade in many developing countries projected to nosedive, warns UNCTAD, Guterres deeply concerned over environmental threat posed by stricken oil tanker off Yemen coast. It held a 10% stake in the Macondo Oil Well that led to the BP Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill disaster. The report ended up being largely viewed as a cover to continue Japans extractive policies toward the ocean, which were pro-fossil fuel, pro-offshore exploration, pro-whaling, pro-seabed mining and the continuation of high levels of emissions by Japans powerful shipping industry. What will be the environmental impact of the Mauritius oil spill? To secure the support of small island states, Abe launched a Commission called the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, along with Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, who was also seeking a UN Security Council Seat for Norway. Half of MOLs fleet is made up of oil and gas tankers as well as bulk carriers that are used to transport coal. 29 Aug 2020: there were protests around the world by the Mauritian diaspora against what they saw as [+] an ecological crime against their country. Responding to MV Wakashio oil spill - IMO The first was the realization it was being outcompeted by China across Africa and many small island states. iron ore mine killing 270 people in 2019. earnings. It will take a new form of leadership to succeed in this new world, and it remains unclear whether Japan currently has this. Strategically, these nations were seen as powerful votes for Japan at the United Nations - pawns in a new Great Game over the Indian Ocean. Minister, Narendra Modi built a strong military, geopolitical and energy partnership during their terms in office. Lady Melania Trump and Japanese first lady, Akie Abe at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on April 17, 2018. Our quiz, Why Jasprit Bumrah is so important for Indian cricket, The race to unravel the mysteries of Moon's south pole, Solving the air-con conundrum. Through a third division, MOL, Mitsui is indirectly one of the worlds largest ship insurers. The visit of Japans Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, to the Wakashio wreck on Saturday December 12 will be closely watched to see how much Japans stance will shift from what has been a disastrous last four months. Mauritius' pristine marine environment is being threatened by the oil spill. Japan has never acknowledged or addressed these leaders. Mitsui held 10% of the oil field through its oil exploration company, MOEX Offshore. The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlighted the need for global adoption of international legislation that govern the seas and protect small island states and their vulnerable marine ecosystems against ship pollution, UN trade body UNCTAD has stated. Both Mitsui and its subsidiaries have had a colorful history, marked with serious allegations of corruption. In many ways, he was seen as the Donald Trump of Japan given their shared policy outlook on many issues (e.g., fossil fuels, climate change, militarization, trade, immigration and China). The MV Wakashio, which spilled more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil off Mauritius, has split apart. However, toward the end of his premiership, his party was embroiled in accusations of political misconductand his popularity had plummeted as both he and his wife had become embroiled in several major financial scandals. Mauritius Oil Spill 2020 | NASA Applied Sciences How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? Japan was on the wrong side of history once before. While the Bunker Convention would provide for maximum compensation of around $65.17 million, the payout would be four times higher, or $286 million, under the applicable International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds regime. BWSC has been banned from all international projects for 21 months. They operate in clusters and in defined areas, as can be seen from the satellite analysis below by Windward that shows their operations in 2020. Why the Mauritius oil spill is so serious. The Japan P&I Club then sits on the Board of ITOPF, the oil industry body that is supposed to offer independent advice to countries experiencing an oil spill, but somehow managed to forget to collect the evidence needed in Mauritius to measure the impact of the oil spill. protests and pressure for Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to resign. Top Questions When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen? The more questions asked about the incident, the more the truth becomes blurred. Japanese Prime Minister Abe enjoyed close relations with US President Trump, seen here with First [+] Lady Melania Trump and Japanese first lady, Akie Abe at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on April 17, 2018. UNCTAD is the UN agency that supports developing countries in gaining fair access to the globalized economy. Investor in fossil fuels: Mitsui is one of the worlds largest investors in oil, gas, coal and mining around the world. What is clear is the large increase in Japans presence in Mauritian waters. Sustainable Development Goal 14 calls on us to protect life below water and this means minimizing pollution at every possible turn, including putting all necessary precautions in place to manage environmental disasters like oil spills when they do happen, said Ms. Sirimanne. Remembering Mauritius's worst environmental disaster The September 2020 Japan-India Defense Agreement. The grounding last month of the MV Wakashio in an environmentally sensitive and biodiverse area, has endangered marine life, food security, and health in Mauritius, as well as its $1.6 billion tourism industry, already hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. murdered anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. leaders at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama on August 29, 2019. Mauritius oil spill: how coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass could be affected Published: August 25, 2020 10.25am EDT . Japan allied itself with political leaders who have been pushing a pro-fossil fuel agenda [+] internationally and with their domestic businesses. This was not the first time a Mitsui subsidiary had used proximity to officials to secure privileged information in a bid-rigging corruption scandal. This interference has put Suga in conflict with some of Japans leading Nobel Prize Winners. For small island nations more at the mercy of the climate crisis than geopolitical maneuvers, the health of the marine environment was a much bigger priority. Within a few months of the deal being signed, there was a 1000% jump in the number of Japanese fishing operations launched from Mauritius. So where was the accuracy of the radars provided by Japan to strengthen Mauritius maritime security? The 2017 car bomb murder of journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia shocked the nation and led to widespread street protests, eventually forcing Muscat to resign in January 2020. 13 August 2020. Mauritians have already been distressed by the sight of over 50 dead whales and dolphins washed up on the islands shores following the Wakashio oil spill. He had specifically intervened to prevent six academics being nominated to Japans independent science council, who had opposed the militarization of Japan. The clean-up of a massive oil spill in August from a vessel off Mauritius will likely be mostly completed by January, the bulk carrier's owner, Japan's Nagashiki Shipping, said Thursday. Local media in Mauritius had reported that information about the bid had been leaked by a senior Government official to influential local consultants contracted by BWSC (a Mauritian engineering company and BWSCs consultant were named in the ongoing investigation), which allowed the Mitsui owned subsidiary (BWSC) to win the power plant bid by submitting an offer priced at the right level. In 2002, a major set of scandals rocked Mitsui & Co. About 1,000 tonnes of oil spilled into a sanctuary for rare wildlife after the Japanese ship MV Wakashio struck a coral reef on 25 July. This also included the militarization of Japan through military procurement via Zaibatsu business groups(similar business groupings to the Keiretsu in the run up to World War 2). Not only did it cost the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius, Ivan Collendavelloo, his job, it also led to a serious report against Mitsuis wholly-owned Power Plant subsidiary, BWSC, by the African Development Bank. Aid boxes from Japan's JICA destined for Mauritius on 19 August did not bring the health assessments [+] that the population of Mauritius had been demanding. An estimated 1 ton of oil from the Japanese ship's . Mauritius oil spill: Thousands march in Port Louis - BBC News Mauritius is best known for its highly Instagrammable white-sand beaches and glistening blue seas to swim in, which (pre-pandemic) attracted 1.34 million tourists a year. With such a defense agreement between Japan and India, it is not inconceivable that the access to Indian Naval Bases could have been granted in exchange for funding the construction of the base and other financial aid from Japan to India (such as the agreement by Japan to provide India with high-speed trains by 2023 that was announced at the same time as the Japan-India Military Base Agreement). This would have been a near-identical replica of the U.K.-U.S. agreement over how the other Indian Ocean military base, Diego Garcia, was funded and built in 1963. The devastation of the Mauritius oil spill is still unaddressed This is a fraction compared to the large Mauritian diaspora in the U.K., France, Australia, Canada and other countries around the world, where the diaspora population is even larger than the Mauritian population currently living on the set of islands. The Wakashio grounding and the way the oil spill response has been handled has revealed that Japan and India are more interested in putting forward their own military and corporate interests than that of the citizens of the Indian Ocean island nations they have publicly claimed to help. The accident happened two days after major protests in Mauritius over the government's handling of the clean up. Seen here Japan's Kawasaki shipyards in 1930. The disputed Kunashiri Island that both Russia and Japan claim, The Japan Times went on to report, The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is reportedly preparing to investigate Mitsuis role in the episode, suspecting violations of legislation banning the bribing of foreign government officials. Location of Agalega, that has 800 inhabitants of Mauritius living on it. However, it has only been under recent U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, that this has now translated into tacit approval of Japan and India increasing their military presence in the Indian Ocean, against the protests of many island nations who are there. 16 Aug 2010: The Japanese relief team to the Wakashio oil spill were widely viewed as representing [+] Japanese corporate interests than that of the communities impacted. Either Japan's technology does not work - Mauritius was sold a dud - or there was something else going on. However, over the course of the 20th century and early 21st century, these hidden business alliances started to form again. He specifically highlighted the role of an intermediary consultant to collect information on the bid to help BWSC secure the most competitive bid allegedly in return for $5 million payment (EUR 4 million). Kunashiri Island is a Russian-held territory claimed by Japan., The Londons Evening Standard further reported about the Kunashiri Island project that, The Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office alleged that details of the Foreign Ministry secret budget for the plan were leaked to the Mitsui employees, enabling the company to outbid two rivals for the contract worth two billion yen ($20 million). Mitsui held 10% of the oil field through its oil exploration company, MOEX Offshore. Had they been more transparent about the type of oil that the. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu is visiting Mauritius on Saturday 12 [+] December 2020. Mitsui has invested $900 million in two major coal mining projects in Mozambique with Brazilian [+] giant Vale. It is thesecond largest corporate group of holdings in Japan, which was until recently, the worlds second largest economy. How could the Wakashio - a Japanese vessel as large as a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier - have then been allowed to occur? One of Abes biggest priorities in office had been an expansionist foreign policy adventure into Africa and small island states. Under the Jugnauth Government, the deal for India to run Mauritius Coastguard and Japan to provide Maritime security services, fishing operations significantly expanded in Mauritius in the past two years. MOL generates over $14 billion in revenue a year, and is in a close partnership with Japans other large multi-billion dollar shipping lines, K-Line and NYK-Line (a global shipping partnership called ONE). The protesters called for the government to resign, The MV Wakashio struck a coral reef near a sanctuary for rare wildlife on 25 July, The prow of the ship was deliberately sunk, Moscow sewer tourists all confirmed dead in floods, Man flees China on jet ski bound for South Korea, Ariana and Demi split from manager Scooter Braun, Trump co-defendants begin to surrender in Georgia, New person of interest identified in AC/DC manager death, Three die from listeria bacteria in milkshakes, UK charges Nigerian ex-oil minister with bribery. 13 Sep 2018: there were large street protests in Mauritius capital city Port Louis against Japan for [+] deals to access Mauritian waters for tuna wishing, with weak monitoring by Japanese-provided maritime security technologies. [+] AFP via Getty Images Four months. https://t.co/Z9eK6RtU2r pic.twitter.com/ySfv3J30h6. JICA provided a new $12 million weather radar within the existing radar tower. This framework is especially critical for small island developing states (SIDS) which face an existential and developmental threat from oil spills in their waters. The Wakashio is a metaphor for the climate crisis. This case was taken to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea. Mauritius and the diaspora. Who owned the rig responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? It is one of the largest financers of shipbuilding in the world. It is not yet clear what caused the death of the dolphins, who were found washed up on the shore this week. The Wakashio ran aground on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius in July, triggering an oil spill [+] and ecological catastrophe that has become a largely Japanese affair. (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) in August 27, 2016 Nairobi. contracts were recognized, brought the entire group in the red (highlighted by Forbes on the bottom right). In order to change the constitution, Mauritius requires 75% of the 60 member National Parliament to vote in favor of the Constitutional Change. Here are six drivers behind Japans strong interests in Mauritius, all of which have started to unravel with the Wakashio oil spill: This is why these drivers matter and what they mean for Japans role in the world. Telekom Malaysia is the country's largest telecommunications company. TSMC Vs. Arizona Pipe Trades 469 Union: Everyone Loses, Tariffs Up To 300% On Steel For Tin Cans Will Likely Hit Consumers, How Three Car Guys And A Winemaker Want To Save Americas Farms With Tractorbots, Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2023: AI And Data Dominate This Years List, How To Think About AI: A Guide For Manufacturers, The 3D Printing Behind The Billion-Dollar Smile Business, Why The Assumption That Manufacturing Jobs Are "Good" Is Dead Wrong, Japan elected the outspoken Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister in 2012, close ties to big business, and his pro-fossil fuel,pro-military, nationalist policies, meeting the then President-elect in Trump Tower, soft subsidy to advance large Japanese corporate interests, High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Official records from Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Development Bank corruption scandal, genuine expertise in major oil spill responses, Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier, do not reveal any adverse weather patterns, Mauritian Prime Minster had described on the BBC, the influences or effectiveness of Japans aid programs, 6000 troops on its aircraft carrier group, Japan signed a Defense Agreement with India, protests by islanders and parliamentarians, rapid industrialization and modernization, sprawling network of business and political relationship, Engineering, Procurement and Construction, Australias largest oil and gas exploration companies, AWE Ltd, criminal and administrative fines and penalties, funded by any multilateral or regional public finance organization, Danish law firm, Poul Schmith (Kammeradvokaten), illegally obtaining sensitive bid information, Fort George - 1995, St Louis - 2004 and 2016, Fort Victoria - 2009 and 2011, Rodrigues Port Mathurin - 1994, 1996, 1998, Rodrigues Pointe Monnier - 2003, 2011, blacklisted if complicity were to have been found, Transparency Internationals 2004 Global Corruption Report, Londons Evening Standard further reported, heavy fuel oil power plant projects in 1990 and 2005, accusations of undermining worker conditions, distorted at least 26 tenders between 1999 and 2013, main beneficiaries of Japans militarization, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Masahisa Sato, with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mauritius, Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo, Japan on its sustainability practices and policies on whaling, Had Japan not pushed for larger vessels, the continuation of heavy fuel oil, offshore Flags of Convenience and lower inspection standards, perhaps the, Had the Japanese insurance firms listened to local maritime experts in Mauritius, rather than flying in their own consultants, they would have realized much sooner the risk the, Had they not decided to unilaterally sink the front bow of the.

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