Zambia prioritises copper output over pollution control, heightening environmental risks, BMI says
Zambia’s antipollution measures are unlikely to lead to major pollution reductions as the government continues to place a higher priority on copper output growth, BMI – a Fitch Solutions company – said on August 12.
On August 6, the US government ordered all its personnel to leave parts of northern Zambia owing to ongoing health threats posed by heavy metals pollution following the collapse, in February, of a tailings dam in the area.
Zambian officials responded by stating that there was no cause for alarm and claimed that heavy metals concentrations in the affected river systems were steadily decreasing.
As it stands, Zambia faces a significant pollution burden in part owing to its large mining sector. This has led to some action by the government, such as fines and promises of clean-up efforts.
However, BMI said Zambia’s anti-pollution measures would likely be seen as a lower priority in Zambia and other mining producers, leading to an increase in related risks.
Markets in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America would be most affected, BMI said, in addition to several other countries where the regulatory environment was permissive, such as Mongolia.
In many countries, BMI expected this trend to be accompanied by an increase in other risks, including Indigenous Peoples' rights violations and crime, reflected in the recent seizure of 4 t of mercury by Peruvian authorities, which was likely intended for use in illicit gold mining.
“Despite these risks, we expect growth in the mining industry across many markets amid rising demand for metals such as copper and gold,” BMI said.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Sweet-Orr, established in 1871, is a global leader in superior protective workwear, known for quality, innovation, and performance.
VISIT SHOWROOM
The Beneficiation Academy is a certified training institution that follows all compliance legislation and is accredited with various Sector...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
