An acid spill from a Chinese mine has contaminated Zambia’s Kafue River, impacting millions. The collapse of a tailings dam released 50 million liters of waste, prompting environmental concerns. The Zambian government is responding by deploying lime to remedy the situation.
An acid spill from a Chinese-owned mine has severely contaminated Zambia’s Kafue River, prompting concerns about its impact on millions of residents. Environmentalists and authorities suspect that pollution has spread up to 100 kilometers downstream. This incident stems from the February 18 collapse of a tailings dam holding acidic waste from a copper mine, causing significant environmental repercussions.
The spill released approximately 50 million liters of acidic waste containing heavy metals into a stream connected to the Kafue River. This contamination threatens the river, which is vital for many Zambians. “It is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences,” states Chilekwa Mumba, an activist from Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
China’s growing influence in Zambia’s copper mining sector is notable, as the nation is among the top 10 copper producers globally. The Kafue River is crucial for about 60% of Zambia’s 20 million population, providing fishing, irrigation, and industrial water. It also supplies drinking water to approximately five million people in Lusaka, the capital.
In response to the crisis, the Zambian government has mobilized the air force to drop lime into the river, aiming to mitigate acid levels and limit further damage. Additionally, speedboats are utilized to distribute lime along the river, emphasizing the urgent need to restore the ecosystem affected by the disaster.
The acid spill from a dam collapse at a Chinese-owned mine has led to significant contamination of Zambia’s Kafue River, affecting millions. The river is vital for drinking water, agriculture, and industry, making the consequences of this environmental disaster severe. The Zambian government is actively working to address the damage by deploying measures to counter the acid spill.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
