Sino-Metal Leach
Sino Metal
ND.
Zambia
Copperbelt Province
ND
Annual Production
| Year | Status | Bauxite | Copper | Cobalt | Lithium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | operational | - | - | - | - | - |
Mining Details
Sino- Metals Leach Zambia Limited is a copper mining and processing company which is based on the Copperbelt. Kalulushi District. The company is a subsidiary of China Nonfenous Metal Mining Corporation Group (CNMC).
Ownership
Deposit Size
-
ND.
Project Impacts
Social Impacts
Before CNMC’s tookover, 67 farmers
ongoingMeaning: Before CNMC’s tookover, 67 farmers
Before CNMC’s took over, 67 farmers near Lukoshi reported crop destruction attributable to CLM’s operations
Environmental Impacts
There was a tailings dam failure
ongoingMeaning: There was a tailings dam failure realizing 50 million liters of acidic wastewater into a tributary of the Kafue River.
There was a tailings dam failure realizing 50 million liters of acidic wastewater into a tributary of the Kafue River. There was widespread fish kills, dead birdlife, damaged crops, groundwater pollution affecting several communities.
Labour Worker Rights
Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts
ongoingMeaning: Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts
Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts, compared to the eight-hour shifts outlined in Zambian law and standard in every other copper mining and processing operation in the country. Miners in certain departments at Sino Metals work 78-hour weeks without sufficient overtime,
Project Impacts
Social Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before CNMC’s tookover, 67 farmers | Before CNMC’s tookover, 67 farmers | 2025 | ongoing | Before CNMC’s took over, 67 farmers near Lukoshi reported crop destruction attributable to CLM’s operations |
Environmental Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There was a tailings dam failure | There was a tailings dam failure realizing 50 million liters of acidic wastewater into a tributary of the Kafue River. | 2025 | ongoing | There was a tailings dam failure realizing 50 million liters of acidic wastewater into a tributary of the Kafue River. There was widespread fish kills, dead birdlife, damaged crops, groundwater pollution affecting several communities. |
Labour Worker Rights
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts | Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts | 2011 | ongoing | Some workers reportedly work 12-hour shifts, compared to the eight-hour shifts outlined in Zambian law and standard in every other copper mining and processing operation in the country. Miners in certain departments at Sino Metals work 78-hour weeks without sufficient overtime, |
Related News2
Zambia’s Lawsuit Against Sino-Metal Sparks Chinese Social Media Storm
International media particularly in the Western countries but also in South Africa and India extensively covered the Sino-Metals Leach tailings disaster that happened back in February, amplifying its impact on lives of Zambian communities and the environment. However, Chinese media maintained a conspicuous silence for months.
A river ‘died’ overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine
KITWE, Zambia (AP) — Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that contaminated a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs of pollution were detected at least 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream.