Communities in Zambia affected by a massive chemical spill. Zambia Plays Down Health Fears After Toxic Mine Spill Triggers U.S. Evacuation in February are demanding a combined $420 million in compensation from Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Ltd., a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Mining Co.
Two organizations representing victims have submitted official letters of demand to the company, holding it responsible for what has been described as one of the country’s worst environmental disasters.
One group, represented by Malisa & Partners Legal Practitioners, has requested $220 million to relocate 47 households from Kalusale, the community most directly impacted. According to documents seen on Bloomberg.
Zambia Mine Toxic Spill: China-Owned Sino Metals Faces $420M Compensation Claim – Bloomberg, the funds would also cover screening, independent medical testing, treatment, and livelihood restoration.
A second group, represented by Malambo & Co., has demanded $200 million to establish an emergency fund for their clients, who are also primarily Kalusale residents.
Both sets of demands underscore growing concerns that the February leak’s scale was far greater than initially disclosed.
Don’t Miss This:
Chinese Nickel Producer Tsingshan To Pump $800 Million Into Zimbabwe Steel Expansion
The disaster occurred when a waste dam at Sino-Metals’ copper-processing plant in Chambishi collapsed, releasing an estimated 50 million liters (13 million gallons) of corrosive, metal-laden waste into a tributary of the Zambezi River.
The toxic sludge destroyed fish stocks, damaged farmland along the riverbanks, and poisoned vital water sources.
Environmental groups have warned that the spill will have consequences lasting for decades, calling it one of the most severe ecological crises in Zambia’s history.
In the aftermath, the United States issued a health notice declaring that the water, soil, and air in the Chambishi area were contaminated with dangerous levels of acid and heavy metals.
The U.S. embassy also restricted staff travel to the region over safety concerns.
China acknowledged the seriousness of the incident but defended its companies’ broader involvement in Zambia’s mining sector.
By contrast, Zambian authorities sought to play down the disaster.
Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa told reporters that the situation was “under control” and rejected claims of significant health risks.
“The immediate danger to human, animal, and plant life has been averted as we speak today. All serious implications on public health, water safety, agriculture, and the environment have been brought under control; there is therefore no cause for alarm,” he said.
An environmental impact assessment carried out by Drizit Environmental (Pty) Ltd., contracted by Sino-Metals, estimated that up to 1.5 million tons of waste were released.
However, after Drizit was dismissed for alleged contract violations, Sino-Metals questioned how the spill volume was calculated.
The firm later stated that around 900,000 cubic meters (238 million gallons) of hazardous tailings remain in the environment, highlighting the enduring scale of the catastrophe.
Don’t Miss This:
Chinese Armored Vehicles Expand Presence In Africa As Gabon Showcases VN-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Image Credit: Bloomberg
