View source for Sino Mine acid spill, 2025

{{Infobox disaster
| title       = 2025 Zambia acid spill
| image       = <!-- Optional: add an image file, e.g., Mwambashi_Spill.jpg -->
| caption     = Acid-contaminated effluent in Mwambashi Stream, February 2025
| date        = 18 February 2025
| location    = Chambishi, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
| coordinates = <!-- e.g. 12°41′S 28°14′E -->
| type        = Tailings dam collapse / Acidic mine effluent spill
| cause       = Failure of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia tailings dam
| outcome     = River acidification, ecological damage, water supply disruption, multi-agency cleanup
| fatalities  = 0 confirmed (no direct human deaths)*
| injuries    = Potential health impacts from contaminated water
| organizations = Sino-Metals Leach Zambia; Zambia Air Force; ZEMA; WARMA; Nkana Water; Ministry of Water and Sanitation
| website     = <!-- Optional: link to government cleanup report or site -->
}}

The '''2025 Zambia acid spill''' occurred on 18 February 2025, when a tailings dam at the Sino‑Metals Leach Zambia facility in Chambishi, Copperbelt Province collapsed, releasing approximately 50 million litres of acidic and heavy-metal–laden waste into the [[Mwambashi Stream]] and subsequently the [[Kafue River]]. The disaster severely impacted water supplies, ecosystems, agriculture, and livelihoods across the region.<ref>“A river 'died' overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine,” AP News, 15 Mar 2025</ref><ref>“In Zambia, the river 'died' overnight: 50 million liters of acid and heavy metals in the water,” EADaily, 17 Mar 2025</ref>

==Background==
Zambia is one of the world's top ten copper producers, with a significant presence of Chinese-owned mining companies. Concerns have long been raised about inadequate regulation and substandard tailings dam safety in the Copperbelt region.<ref>“Toxic Spills in Zambia Bring Chinese Mining Abuses to Light,” ADF, 8 Apr 2025</ref><ref>“Contamination crisis: Acid spill from Chinese copper mine affects Zambia’s Kafue River,” InfoStreamer, 18 Mar 2025</ref>

==Impact==
===Environmental===
* Large-scale fish die-offs and wildlife losses were reported along more than 100 km downstream. Residents described the site as having “died overnight.”<ref>AP News</ref><ref>Independent, 15 Mar 2025</ref>  
* Farming plots—including maize, groundnuts, and vegetables—suffered severe crop destruction and soil acidification.<ref>AP News</ref><ref>Africanews, 15 Mar 2025</ref>  
* Elevated levels of copper, manganese, and zinc were recorded in water and sediment, indicating long-term ecological contamination.<ref>Zambia Monitor, 11 Mar 2025</ref><ref>EADaily</ref>

===Public health & livelihoods===
* The water supply to Kitwe (≈700,000 inhabitants) was suspended entirely.<ref>AP News</ref><ref>Newsweek, 15 Mar 2025</ref>  
* Fishing and irrigation across communities collapsed; many farmers lost their entire harvests.<ref>Africanews</ref><ref>EADaily</ref>

Residents shared the devastation publicly:
> “It’s like a totally dead river… Overnight, this river died.” — Sean Cornelius<ref>Independent</ref>  
> “I found the lime had flowed through the pond and all the fish had been swept away. I just stood in agony…” — Juliet Bulaya, farmer<ref>Africanews</ref>

==Response==
===Government===
* The government halted operations at Sino‑Metals and nearby Chinese-owned Rongxing mine following inspections that revealed similar safety lapses.<ref>ADF, 8 Apr 2025</ref>  
* President Hichilema deployed Zambia Air Force helicopters to disperse hundreds of tons of lime and mobilised a multi-agency cleanup task force including ZEMA, WARMA, Water Development, and Nkana Water.<ref>Newsweek</ref><ref>Africanews</ref>  
* Initial pH levels returned to neutral (6.9–7.4), though heavy metal contamination in sediment and groundwater persisted.<ref>Zambia Monitor</ref><ref>Newsweek</ref>  
* Farmers are being registered for compensation; Rongxing’s director was arrested, and police enforce compliance at affected sites.<ref>ADF</ref><ref>Zambia Monitor</ref>

===Corporate===
* Sino‑Metals apologized publicly and pledged full responsibility for cleanup and compensation.<ref>AP News</ref><ref>Mining.com</ref>  
* Mutual assurances of environmental restoration were made, but implementation remains under community scrutiny.<ref>InfoStreamer</ref><ref>EADaily</ref>

==Context & Ongoing Challenges==
* In March 2025, another spill at the Mimbula Mine (British-operated) contaminated local water systems, highlighting systemic regulatory failures in the mining sector.<ref>ClimateChangeNews, 28 Mar 2025</ref>  
* Civil society and environmental advocates blame Chinese mining operations for prioritizing profits over safety; the spill reignited demand for tougher regulation and accountability.<ref>Africa Defense Forum</ref><ref>HongKongPost, 25 Apr 2025</ref>

==Aftermath & Significance==
The incident has become a catalyst for reform in Zambia's mining sector, intensifying calls for structural oversight, improved dam standards, and protection for communities and ecosystems. Government commitments to reform are underway, but tangible actions and enforcement remain crucial.<ref>Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 28 Mar 2025</ref><ref>Econews, 3 Apr 2025</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kafue River]]
* [[Mwambashi stream]]
* [[1970 Mufulira Mine Disaster]]
* [[Mining in Zambia]]
* [[Environmental disasters in Zambia]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:2025 in Zambia]]
[[Category:Disasters in Zambia]]
[[Category:Mining in Zambia]]
[[Category:Copperbelt]]
[[Category:Tailings dam failures]]
[[Category:Mining disasters in Zambia]]