Rongxing tailing dam collapse poisons a stream in Zambia

On Thursday, a tailing dam at Rongxing Investment Limited collapsed, spilling suspected acidic content into the Luela stream in Chambishi. The effluent killed different fish species and also caused damage to crops around the water body. A variety of vegetables cultivated along the stream wilted while others were covered in mud.

The spillage happened at Rongxing Investment Limited, a copper processing company located on the Kitwe-Mufulira road. The Luela stream feeds into the Mwambashi stream, which is one of the tributaries of the Kafue River.

As a result of the spillage, different fish species were found floating while others were washed to the banks of the stream. Several residents caught the fish and sold it to unsuspecting people, but police officers quickly moved in to confiscate it.

Kalulushi District Commissioner Stephen Kainga visited the mine to register his disappointment. The owners were found trying to compact the soil at the bottom of the dam using a forklift.

Mr Kainga, who toured the tailings dam, noticed that it was not properly built because the embankments are weak. “You were supposed to compact the soil and ensure that you put stones in the sides to prevent spillages,” Mr Kainga said.

On friday officers from Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and Mines Safety Department (MSD) moved in to shut the mine for polluting a stream in Chambishi with effluent.

One of the officers said preliminary investigations done by MSD indicate the pH [potential of Hydrogen] stood at five at the time of the discharge.

He said pH of five indicates there was “a bit of acid” in the effluent but the water has now been neutralised.

“When the pH is seven, it means it’s normal or alkaline but when it starts dropping to five, four or one, it means the water is acidic,” he said. He also said some lime dosing was done in the water to neutralise the acid.

He said MSD in partnership with ZEMA ordered the mine to close to pave way for investigations and maintenance of the tailing dump. He also said it is not possible for the mine to continue operating when one of the dumps is damaged.

He said the mine has been directed to re-construct the dump with the right material and to start collecting water samples in the stream for testing.

ZEMA acting public relations manager Friday Phiri also confirmed suspension of operations at the mine.

Mr Phiri said in a statement that preliminary analysis done indicates that about 200 metres [stretch] of the stream was polluted.

“The pollution has affected fish and other aquatic organisms,” Mr Phiri said.

He said the mine has further been ordered to clean-up and restore the affected stretch of the stream and submit a clean up and restoration report to the agency.

Meanwhile, Kalulushi Municipal Council has also tasked the mine to inform people on the contamination of water and vegetables through public announcements.

Rongxing is a copperprocessing firm located on the Sabina-Mufulira road and it operates a concentrator and leach plant.

The local authority is now advising members of the public to avoid buying vegetables and fish along the Mufulira-Sabina road because they might be contaminated.

In a statement, Kalulushi Council director of public health Susiku Mwakoi said the mining firm has been tasked to inform people not to eat or buy vegetables sold near the polluted area.

Mr Mwakoi said the mine should make announcements on radio on the danger of consuming contaminated vegetables or fish.

He also cautioned farmers in the area to desist from irrigating crops using water from the same stream.