Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia worry the long-term affect of an acid spill at a Chinese language-owned mine that contaminated a serious river and will doubtlessly have an effect on tens of millions of individuals after indicators of air pollution have been detected not less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream.
This picture taken from video Wednesday, February 19, 2025, exhibits lifeless fish within the Kafue River close to the city of Luanshya, Zambia.(AP Photograph/Richard Kille)
The spill occurred on Feb. 18 when a tailings dam that holds acidic waste from a copper mine within the north of the nation collapsed, in keeping with investigators from the Engineering Establishment of Zambia.
Additionally learn: Trudeau departs, brings to an finish nine-year tenure as PM of Canada
The collapse allowed some 50 million liters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids and heavy metals to circulate right into a stream that hyperlinks to the Kafue River, Zambia’s most vital waterway, the engineering establishment mentioned.
“It is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences,” mentioned Chilekwa Mumba, an environmental activist who works in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
China is the dominant participant in copper mining in Zambia, a southern African nation which is among the many world’s prime 10 producers of copper, a key part in smartphones and different know-how.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema referred to as for assist from specialists and mentioned the leak is a disaster that threatens individuals and wildlife alongside the Kafue, which runs for greater than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) by the guts of Zambia.
Authorities are nonetheless investigating the extent of the environmental injury.
Additionally learn: This market indicator from the early 1900s is blaring an alarm for US shares
A river died in a single day
An Related Press reporter visited components of the Kafue River, the place lifeless fish might be seen washing up on the banks about 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream from the mine run by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, which is majority owned by the state-run China Nonferrous Metals Trade Group.
The Ministry of Water Improvement and Sanitation mentioned the “devastating consequences” additionally included the destruction of crops alongside the river’s banks. Authorities are involved that floor water will probably be contaminated because the mining waste seeps into the earth or is carried to different areas.
“Prior to the 18th of February this was a vibrant and alive river,” mentioned Sean Cornelius, who lives close to the Kafue and mentioned fish died and birdlife close to him disappeared nearly instantly. “Now everything is dead, it’s like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died.”
Additionally learn: Donald Trump administration considers journey ban on 41 international locations, says memo | Full listing
About 60% of Zambia’s 20 million individuals dwell within the Kafue River basin and rely upon it ultimately as a supply of fishing, irrigation for agriculture and water for business. The river provides ingesting water to about 5 million individuals, together with within the capital, Lusaka.
The acid leak on the mine triggered a whole shutdown of the water provide to the close by metropolis of Kitwe, house to an estimated 700,000 individuals.
Makes an attempt to roll again the injury
The Zambian authorities has deployed the air drive to drop a whole bunch of tons of lime into the river in an try and counteract the acid and roll again the injury. Pace boats have additionally been used to journey up and down the river, making use of lime.
Authorities spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa mentioned the scenario was very critical and Sino-Metals Leach Zambia would bear the prices of the cleanup operation.
Additionally learn: ‘It is extra his beef…’: LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman on Elon Musk’s allegations over Tesla protest
Zhang Peiwen, the chairman of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, met with authorities ministers this week and apologized for the acid spill, in keeping with a transcript of his speech on the assembly launched by his firm.
“This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry,” he mentioned. He mentioned it “will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible.”
Discontent with Chinese presence
The environmental impact of China’s large mining interests in mineral-rich parts of Africa, which include Zambia’s neighbors Congo and Zimbabwe, has often been criticized, even as the minerals are crucial to the countries’ economies.
Chinese-owned copper mines have been accused of ignoring safety, labor and other regulations in Zambia as they strive to control its supply of the critical mineral, leading to some discontent with their presence. Zambia is also burdened with more than $4 billion in debt to China and had to restructure some of its loans from China and other nations after defaulting on repayments in 2020.
Also read: Daniel Kahneman, ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ author, died of assisted suicide
A smaller acid waste leak from another Chinese-owned mine in Zambia’s copper belt was discovered days after the Sino-Metals accident, and authorities have accused the smaller mine of attempting to hide it.
Local police said a mine worker died at that second mine after falling into acid and alleged that the mine continued to operate after being instructed to stop its operations by authorities. Two Chinese mine managers have been arrested, police said.
Both mines have now halted their operations after orders from Zambian authorities, while many Zambians are angry.
“It really just brings out the negligence that some investors actually have when it comes to environmental protection,” mentioned Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer who attended the assembly involving Zhang, authorities ministers, and others. “They don’t seem to have any concern at all, any regard at all. And I think it’s really worrying because at the end of the day, we as Zambian people, (it’s) the only land we have.”