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Category: Mining safety

Mining in DRC Diamond Mining safety 

Five Diamond Diggers Killed in Land Collapse in Tshikapa DRC

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Five diamond diggers tragically lost their lives on Saturday, March 22, following a land collapse in the Kanfuma mining area, located in the diamond-rich territory of Tshikapa, in the Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The incident occurred after heavy rains on the night of Friday, March 21, which weakened the walls of a diamond pit. The collapse resulted in the deaths of the five diggers working at the site. Their bodies were recovered and prepared for burial, according to Kangola Mike, a manager of the Kanfuma… Read More Here
Mining in Zambia Copper Mining safety 

Zambia Faces Environmental Crisis After Copper Mine Waste Spill

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A massive waste spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia has raised serious environmental and health concerns, with authorities fearing long-term damage to the Kafue River, the country’s most vital waterway. According to an investigation by the Engineering Institution of Zambia, approximately 50 million liters of waste—containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals—spilled from the Chambishi copper mine into streams that feed into the Kafue River. The incident occurred on February 18 when a tailings dam at the mine, operated by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, collapsed. The company is… Read More Here
Gold Artisanal mining Mining safety 

Mali Bans Small-Scale Gold Mining Permits for Foreigners Amid Safety Concerns

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Mali has halted the issuance of small-scale gold mining permits to foreign nationals following a series of fatal mining accidents. Interim President Assimi Goïta has directed the government to implement stricter measures to prevent human and environmental disasters, Minister of Security and Civil Protection General Daoud Aly Mohamedinne announced on Wednesday. The new measures include: The crackdown follows a tragic mine collapse in western Mali last month, which claimed the lives of at least 49 people, many of them women. The accident occurred in an open-pit site where individuals were… Read More Here
Mining in Zambia Mining safety 

Sino Mine Tailings Dam Collapse Devastates Land and Crops in Chambeshi

Constance
A major environmental disaster has unfolded in Mwambashi Ward, Chambeshi District in Zambia, after the collapse of the Sino Mine Leach Tailings Dam, which contained acid. The spill has not only contaminated the surrounding land but has also devastated over 200 farmers’ fields, raising concerns about mining-related environmental risks. Anthony Mwape, one of the affected farmers, reported that his four-hectare farm—where he grew maize, onions, and cabbage—was completely destroyed. His crops, which were ready for harvest in March, were lost due to the acid exposure. Area Councillor Bertha Mulenga has… Read More Here
International Mining safety 

South Africa Halts Rescue Operation for Trapped Illegal Miners Over Safety Concerns

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South African authorities suspended rescue efforts on Monday for an unspecified number of illegal miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft west of Johannesburg, citing safety risks. Rescue teams descended 70 meters into the shaft but were forced to halt operations when conditions became too dangerous. “The search and rescue operation has been terminated for now due to the safety of the rescuers,” said Robert Mulaudzi of Johannesburg Emergency Services, adding that such operations are highly complex. The miners became trapped after a pulley system used for entry and exit… Read More Here
Gold Artisanal mining International Mining safety 

Mali Gold Mine Accident Kills 13, Including Women and Children

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Thirteen artisanal miners, including women and three children, lost their lives on Wednesday after a tunnel they were working in flooded at an open-pit gold mine near Danga village in Mali’s southwestern Koulikoro region, the National Union of Gold Counters and Refineries (UCROM) confirmed on Saturday. The disaster occurred when sluice gates from a nearby muddy water reservoir collapsed, sending a surge of water into the tunnel where miners, including women and children, were digging for leftover gold particles. UCROM Secretary General Taoule Camara described the situation as dire.“It is… Read More Here
International Mining safety 

South African Rescue Efforts Conclude After 78 Deaths at Illegal Gold Mine

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Efforts to rescue miners from an illegal gold mine near Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, ended on Thursday. At least 78 miners died during a months-long police siege that local labor groups have condemned as a humanitarian crisis. The police had encircled the mine since August, cutting off food and water in an attempt to force the miners out for arrest. The GIWASU labor union described the incident as “the worst state-sponsored massacre since the end of apartheid.” Since Monday, rescuers used a cylindrical metal cage to retrieve 78 bodies and… Read More Here
Mining in Zambia Mining safety Safety & Health 

Zambian Mining Companies Collaborate on Mine Rescue Training to Enhance Safety

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Mine rescue teams from ten leading Zambian mining companies recently gathered for a joint training session at First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi Mining site in Solwezi District. The training aimed to enhance safety and rescue capabilities across Zambia’s mining sector. This event represented a significant step toward standardizing safety protocols and fostering a unified approach to mine rescue operations. Kansanshi Mine Technical Manager Clayton Reeves highlighted the importance of industry-wide collaboration, noting, “Shared safety knowledge and teamwork are essential for protecting lives in our industry.” Representatives from the participating mines praised… Read More Here
Mining in Zambia Electricity Mining safety 

Zambian Miners Rescued Following Nationwide Power Outage

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Miners trapped underground at two copper mines in Zambia were safely rescued after a nationwide power outage disrupted operations, the country’s Ministry of Energy reported on Monday. The blackout occurred on Sunday due to a “power system disturbance,” according to state utility Zesco. The outage also affected neighboring Zimbabwe, highlighting the region’s ongoing energy challenges exacerbated by the worst drought in decades, which has severely impacted hydropower generation. Zambia’s Energy Permanent Secretary, Peter Mumba, confirmed that miners were trapped at Mopani Copper Mines, majority-owned by the United Arab Emirates’ International… Read More Here
Mining in Zambia Copper Mining safety 

Konkola Copper Mines Reports Second Fatality at Nchanga Mine

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CHINGOLA, 21 October 2024: Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) deeply regrets to announce a second fatality at its Nchanga mine. Mr. Stephen Daka, a 38-year-old dump truck driver employed by GRN Mining Contractor, tragically lost his life at the Chingola Open Pit (COP, F&D) operations on Monday, 21 October 2024, around 13:00 hours. Mr. Daka’s body was discovered by the mine’s investigation team a few meters from the dump truck he had been operating. The circumstances leading to the accident are currently under investigation. KCM’s management has expressed its heartfelt… Read More Here

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