'River ‘dies’ after massive acidic waste spill at Chinese-owned copper mine’ 15 March 2025

A catastrophic acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia has contaminated a major river, sparking fears of long-term environmental damage and potential harm to millions of people. The spill, which occurred on February 18, has sent shockwaves through the southern African nation. Investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia revealed that the incident stemmed from the collapse of a tailings dam at the mine. This dam, designed to contain acidic waste, released an estimated 50 million litres of toxic material into a stream feeding the Kafue River, Zambia's most important waterway. The waste is a dangerous cocktail of concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals.

…Environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba, working in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, described the incident as "an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences". The spill underscores the risks associated with mining, particularly in a region where China holds significant influence over the copper industry. Zambia ranks among the world's top 10 copper producers, a metal crucial for manufacturing smartphones and other technologies. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed for expert assistance to address the crisis. The full extent of the environmental damage is still being assessed…“Now everything is dead, it's like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died.”

…Zhang Peiwen, the chairman of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, met with government ministers this week and apologized for the acid spill, according to a transcript of his speech at the meeting released by his company. “This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry,” he said. It “will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible”, he said…Chinese-owned copper mines have been accused of ignoring safety, labour and other regulations in Zambia as they strive to control its supply of the critical mineral, leading to some discontent with their presence…“It really just brings out the negligence that some investors actually have when it comes to environmental protection,” said Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer who attended the meeting involving Mr Zhang, government 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.”