Authorities and environmental groups in Zambia are assessing the long-term impact of an acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine that has polluted a major river and threatens millions of people. Contamination has been detected at least 100 kilometers downstream from the site of the spill, raising concerns about water safety and ecosystem damage.
The incident occurred on February 18 when a tailings dam at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine near Kitwe collapsed, releasing approximately 50 million liters of acidic waste into a stream that feeds into the Kafue River. The Engineering Institution of Zambia confirmed the breach, which resulted in heavy metals and dissolved solids flowing into the waterway.
The Kafue River, a critical source of water for about five million people, stretches over 1,500 kilometers and supports agriculture, industry, and wildlife. Authorities reported visible pollution, including dead fish washing up on riverbanks, and fear groundwater contamination could exacerbate the crisis. The Zambian government has deployed the air force to distribute lime in an effort to neutralize the acidity, while boats have been used to disperse the treatment along affected sections of the river.
President Hakainde Hichilema called for expert assistance, warning of severe risks to people and wildlife. The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation described the situation as devastating, with the destruction of crops and the loss of biodiversity in the affected areas. Residents near the river reported immediate ecological collapse, with fish and birdlife disappearing overnight.
The spill led to the shutdown of the water supply in Kitwe, a city of approximately 700,000 people, compounding the disaster’s impact on local communities. Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, which is majority-owned by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group, has pledged to restore the environment and cover the costs of the cleanup. Company chairman Zhang Peiwen publicly apologized, stating that the incident was a serious wake-up call for the mining sector.
Meanwhile, local discontent over Chinese mining operations in Zambia has intensified. Critics accuse Chinese firms of disregarding environmental and labor regulations, further fueling tensions in a country heavily indebted to China, with more than $4 billion in loans. Concerns deepened after authorities discovered another acid spill at a separate Chinese-owned mine in the Copperbelt region. That mine, which allegedly attempted to conceal the leak, was ordered to cease operations, and two Chinese managers were arrested following the death of a worker who fell into an acid pool.
Both mines remain closed as Zambian authorities continue their investigations. Environmental experts warn that the acid spill could have lasting consequences, underscoring broader concerns over industrial pollution and regulatory oversight in Zambia’s mining sector.
