Waste Spill From Chinese-Owned Copper Mine Devastates Zambian River

Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia are deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of an acid spill at the Chinese-owned Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine.

In the days following the Sino-Metals spill, authorities discovered a smaller acid leak from another Chinese-owned mine in the Copperbelt Province. I Photo: China Daily

The spill contaminated a major river and could impact millions of people, with pollution detected more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream, Richard Kille and Jacob Zimba reported for the Associated Press.

The disaster occurred on February 18, when a tailings dam holding acidic waste from a copper mine in northern Zambia collapsed, according to investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia.

The failure released approximately 50 million liters of waste—containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals—into a stream connected to the Kafue River, the country’s most vital waterway.

Zambia, which defaulted on its $4 billion debt to China in 2020, has seen repeated environmental concerns linked to Chinese-owned mines.

In the days following the Sino-Metals spill, authorities discovered a smaller acid leak from another Chinese-owned mine in the Copperbelt Province, with officials accusing the company of attempting to cover it up.

“This is an environmental disaster of catastrophic proportions,” warned Chilekwa Mumba, an environmental activist working in Zambia’s mining region.

China dominates Zambia’s copper mining sector, and Zambia is one of the world's top 10 copper producers. The metal is a key component in smartphones and other electronics, making it a highly sought-after resource.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed for international assistance, acknowledging that the spill poses a crisis for both people and wildlife along the Kafue River.

Spanning over 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) across Zambia, the Kafue is essential for agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower. Investigations into the full extent of the environmental damage are ongoing.