A tailings dam fails at a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia

The tailings dam of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, majority owned by state-owned China Nonferrous Metals, collapsed at Chambishi. An engineering investigation found that about 50 million litres of acidic waste and heavy metals reached streams feeding the Kafue, Zambia’s most important river.

Why it matters. Tailings failures remain a material risk well beyond Brazil, with legal, social and reputational costs for the owner.

Source

MINING.COM

In the course

Module 10: Risk and jurisdiction