Sorry to spoil your thread with this news, will go quiet now.
Zambia Travel Update:
Major Zambian River ‘Died’ Overnight After 50 Million Liters of ‘Dangerous Cocktail’ Was Spilled From a Mine
Story by Front Page Detectives Staff • 1d
Major Zambian River ‘Died’ Overnight After 50 Million Liters of ‘Dangerous Cocktail’ Was Spilled From a Mine
Zambia is facing a lethal crisis of unprecedented scale after a humungous acid spill at a Chinese-owned copper mine poisoned a major river, threatening the livelihoods and health of millions. This unfortunate incident has ignited outrage among locals and environmentalists, emphasizing the dangers of unchecked industrial operations in one of Africa’s top copper-producing nations, as per The Independent.
In February 2025, a tailings dam at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine collapsed, unraveling a whooping 50 million liters of acidic waste into a stream that feeds the Kafue River. This river, spanning over 1,500 kilometers (930 miles), is Zambia’s lifeline—facilitating drinking water to five million people, aiding agriculture, and nurturing dynamic wildfire. Experts describe the leaked substance as a “dangerous cocktail” of concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals, making it a deadly concoction for environmental disasters in Zambia’s history. Residents living near the riverbank were the first to experience this horrible scene. Sean Cornelius (nearby resident) remarked, “Prior to February 18 this was a vibrant and alive river…Now everything is dead, it's like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died,” as reported by Politico.
Investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia confirmed that the aftermath of this is already happening 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream, with reports of mass fish deaths and extinguishing birdlife. Moreover, The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has also confirmed the damage to crops near the riverbanks, posing concerns about food security. As if this was not enough, a deadly problem still lingers. It is speculated that there is a high chance of acidic waste seeping into the groundwater, posing an alarming risk to future problems that can be deadly for human beings or anyone who comes in contact with this liquid poison, via Politico.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been quick and wasted no time in calling for foreign expertise to aid contain the crisis, emphasizing that the environmental damage could take years to reverse. Zhang Peiwen, chairman of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, publicly apologized, “This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry…will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible,” as reported by The Independent.
However, critics argue that this is just the beginning of environmental violations. There is a lot more to witness in the near future if strict actions are not taken against this destructive nature. To make matters worse, a second acid leak was discovered at another Chinese-owned mine just days later. Officials have proactively since arrested two Chinese managers for continuing such actions after orders to halt the procedure. Moreover, a worker lost his life after falling into acid. Environmental engineer Mweene Himwinga noted, “It really just brings out the negligence that some investors actually have when it comes to environmental protection…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,” via The Independent.
msn.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
River ‘dies’ after massive acidic waste spill at Chinese-owned copper mine
50 million litres of waste have flowed into the river, with ‘devastating’ consequences
Richard Kille Jacob Zimba Saturday 15 March 2025 17:04 GMT
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.
The Kafue River, stretching over 930 miles (1,500 kilometres) through the heart of Zambia, supports a vast ecosystem and provides water for millions. The contamination has already been detected at least 60 miles downstream from the spill site, raising serious concerns about the long-term impact on both human populations and wildlife.
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.
A river died overnight
An Associated Press reporter visited parts of the Kafue River, where dead fish could be seen washing up on the banks about 60 miles downstream from the mine run by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, which is majority owned by the state-run China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group.
The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation said the "devastating consequences" also included the destruction of crops along the river's banks. Authorities are concerned that ground water will be contaminated as the mining waste seeps into the earth or is carried to other areas.
“Prior to February 18 this was a vibrant and alive river,” said Sean Cornelius, who lives near the Kafue and said fish died and birdlife near him disappeared almost immediately.
“Now everything is dead, it's like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died.”
About 60 per cent of Zambia's 20 million people live in the Kafue River basin and depend on it in some way as a source of fishing, irrigation for agriculture and water for industry. The river supplies drinking water to about five million people, including in the capital, Lusaka.
The acid leak at the mine caused a complete shutdown of the water supply to the nearby city of Kitwe, home to an estimated 700,000 people.
Attempts to roll back the damage
The Zambian government has deployed the air force to drop hundreds of tons of lime into the river in an attempt to counteract the acid and roll back the damage. Speed boats have also been used to ride up and down the river, applying lime.
Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the situation was very serious and Sino-Metals Leach Zambia would bear the costs of the cleanup operation.
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.
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 criticised, even as the minerals are crucial to the countries' economies.
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.
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.
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,” 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.”
independent.co.uk |
