Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that poisoned a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs of pollution were detected at least 100 kilometers downstream.

The spill happened on Feb. 18 when a tailings dam that holds acidic waste from a copper mine in the north of the country collapsed, according to investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia.

The collapse allowed some 50 million liters of waste containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids and heavy metals to flow into a stream that links to the Kafue River, Zambia’s most important waterway, the engineering institution said.

“It is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences,” said Chilekwa Mumba, an environmental activist who works in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.

  • OnASnowyEvening@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    6 hours ago

    “This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry,” [says company directly responsible.]

    Yeah, no it hasn’t. This isn’t the first mining dam to fail with consequences. It won’t be the last. No one at that company is losing sleep over this.

    Both mines have now halted their operations after orders from Zambian authorities, while many Zambians are angry.

    Gotta let it die down. Placate the masses. Then back to business as usual.

    • ro_holding@lemmy.caEnglish
      7·
      3 hours ago

      Exactly. They’ll pay a fine that is significantly less than the money saved by building half-assed pond retention walls, and go right back to not caring about what happens to the world around them, so long as they get their profits.

      And this doesn’t just happen in Africa, either. Remember the one in BC two or three years ago? Ever heard of Elk Valley? And my province’s grifter govt is trying to build more coal mines. If you are in AB and you haven’t called your MLA about that, and protested, and donated, you need to wake up.

  • CobraChicken3000@lemmy.caEnglish
    59·
    6 hours ago

    “About 60% 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.”

    Well, that’s devastating. Nice going, China.

    • gibmiser@lemmy.worldEnglish
      24·
      6 hours ago

      5 million people. And our governments will maybe, maybe give a slap on the wrist while God knows how many have health problems from using the contaminated water because they cannot afford other options.

  • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
    18·
    6 hours ago

    “This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry,” he said. He said it “will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible.”

    Doubt.