Acid Spill from Chinese-Owned Copper Mine Contaminates Vital Waterway in Zambia

A recent acid spill from the Chambishi copper mine in Zambia, operated by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, has contaminated the Kafue River. Approximately 50 million liters of waste were released due to a tailings dam collapse, raising alarms about health risks to nearby populations and wildlife. The Zambian government is seeking expert assistance in addressing the crisis, and the mine’s chairman has promised restoration efforts.

A disastrous waste spill from a Chinese-operated copper mine in Zambia has raised serious concerns regarding the contamination of the Kafue River, a crucial waterway in the region. Approximately 50 million liters of toxic waste, containing concentrated acid, heavy metals, and dissolved solids, were released from the Chambishi copper mine into streams that flow into the Kafue River. This information was substantiated by an investigation conducted by the Engineering Institution of Zambia.

The unfortunate event commenced on February 18, when a tailings dam collapsed at the mine run by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group. The spill has alarmed Zambian authorities, including President Hakainde Hichilema, who labeled it a crisis endangering both human and wildlife along the Kafue River. The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has expressed anxiety regarding the spill’s potential disastrous effects, particularly concerning groundwater contamination that could devastate agriculture.

Local reports confirm the environmental devastation, with dead fish being sighted along the riverbanks approximately 100 kilometers downstream from the mine site. The Kafue River basin, which supports about 60% of Zambia’s population, is vital as it provides drinking water to approximately five million people, including those residing in the capital, Lusaka. The acid spill has already forced the water supply closure to Kitwe, a city that houses about 700,000 individuals.

Recently, the chairman of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia met with government officials and expressed regret over the acid spill. He stated, according to a company transcript, that the firm would “go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible.”

The acid spill from the Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia poses serious risks to the Kafue River and its surrounding ecosystem. With significant ramifications for both human and wildlife health, the situation necessitates urgent intervention. The mine’s management has pledged to take swift action to remediate the environmental damage, but the impact on the water supply and local agriculture is likely to be long-lasting.

Original Source: www.mining.com