The Congolese government has ordered a suspension of operations at Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM), a major copper and cobalt producer, for at least three months following the collapse of a containment wall that spilled polluted water into residential areas.
The suspension was announced on Thursday, November 6, by Mines Minister Louis Watum, two days after the incident at the company’s plant in Lubumbashi.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the minister said the company’s waste basin “does not meet any environmental standards,” citing a lack of sealing, structural integrity, control mechanisms, and an emergency plan.
“This negligence has caused clear pollution of the waters and exposed the population to serious health risks,” Mr. Watum wrote, adding that the three-month suspension could be “extended if necessary.”
The breach occurred in an area known as Annexe, a commune containing residential neighborhoods, markets, gardens, and water sources.
The minister directed CDM to “fully repair the environmental damage, ensure payment of its personnel, compensate affected communities, and strictly comply with the country’s mining code.”
According to ministry statistics, CDM produced approximately 59,000 tons of copper and 552 tons of cobalt in 2024. The company is a subsidiary of Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, the world’s largest cobalt refiner last year.
M&B with Bloomberg