Lubumbashi Acid Spill Sparks Environmental and Health Alarm
Lubumbashi Mining Disaster: Acid Spill from CDM Threatens River, Homes, and Public Health
In Lubumbashi, the Lubumbashi River has become a symbol of a growing environmental crisis. A recent spill from an acid effluent retention basin at the Chinese-owned Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM) in the Kasapa district has contaminated streets, homes, and the river itself, prompting outrage from local communities and NGOs.
The spill, which occurred three days prior, released toxic water that killed fish and destroyed residential areas. Authorities warn of serious health risks, including respiratory and neurological problems, skin burns, lesions, and potential long-term exposure to heavy metals. Despite the danger, residents continue to walk through the contaminated water.
READ ALSO:DRC Minister Suspends Congo Dongfang Mining After Effluent Spill in Lubumbashi
This is not the first environmental incident involving CDM, a subsidiary of Huayou Cobalt. Previous spills have raised concerns about repeated negligence by mining companies and insufficient government oversight.
While Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba suspended CDM operations for three months, environmental groups say this is inadequate. They are demanding immediate decontamination, medical checks for exposed residents, compensation for affected families, and a public report detailing the incident’s causes and consequences.
NGOs are also calling for stronger environmental governance, including a permanent monitoring mechanism involving local communities and strict enforcement of the Mining Code, which requires companies to publish Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). They also advocate for a comprehensive audit of the mining sector, including artisanal operations.
Provincial authorities and environmental agencies have been urged to conduct an independent investigation. Meanwhile, residents are advised to avoid consuming water or fish from the Lubumbashi River.
“This disaster must serve as a wake-up call to prioritize public health and environmental protection over economic interests,” the NGOs concluded, stressing the urgent need for stricter regulation of the mining sector.
