The US Embassy Demands the Removal of the Contaminated Zone in Zambia

• The US demands the removal of the contaminated zone after the leak.
• Toxic substances have contaminated the river system in Zambia.
• Ecological consequences of the leak have caused contamination.

LUSAKA, Zambia — The Embassy of the United States in Zambia has instructed all staff members of the US government to leave the region in the northern part of the country, which has been affected by toxic leaks from a Chinese mining enterprise. This incident occurred six months ago.

In a statement on social media, the embassy indicated that new information showed that "toxic and carcinogenic substances," such as arsenic, cyanide, uranium, and other heavy metals, contaminated the main river system, which flows through the town of Chambishi and nearby town Kitwe. According to the data, this contamination could become permanent after the accident at the mine in February.

The embassy did not specify how many American officials were present in the area of the mine's operations. It also advised other American citizens in the region to take precautions against the influx of toxic heavy metals in the water and elsewhere.

Approximately 700,000 people live in Kitwe, one of the largest cities in Zambia, which is a hub for international mining companies.

Ecologists and other activists previously expressed concerns about the contamination on a large scale following the leak at the mine, which is operated by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group. China is the dominant player in copper mining in Zambia, which is one of the largest copper producers in the world.

The leak was a result of the flooding of the tailings dam, which contained acidic and heavy metal mine waste, according to researchers from the Engineering Institute of Zambia, as a result of which nearly 50 million liters of toxic materials entered the Kafue river system.

During the following days after the leak, dead fish were found up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) downstream, which indicated a significant impact, and the contamination could affect millions of people living along the Kafue river, which runs for 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) through the southern part of the country.

The Sino-Metals company was also supposed to help with the cleanup efforts, including the removal of 700 tons of waste into the river with the polluted sediments of Zambia, to neutralize the acidic waste.

Tags: Ecology