ZEMA: Sino-Metals Leach EIA Public Hearing Held for TSF Expansion

• Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited plans to extend its TD15G Tailings Storage Facility in Kalulushi District.
• The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment report for the project, following the conclusion of the public hearing and comment period.
• A public hearing for the ZEMA Sino-Metals Leach EIA was held on September 23, 2026, at the Chambishi Sub-Centre Premises.
• The deadline for submitting written public comments on the EIA report was October 1, 2026.
• The expanded facility, TD15G-1, will have a total storage capacity of 5.48 million m³ and an estimated operational lifespan of 10 years.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Zambia's mining sector should now monitor the ongoing review process by ZEMA, following the public hearing on September 23, 2026, and the public comment deadline of October 1, 2026, regarding Sino-Metals Leach Zambia's proposed tailings facility extension. This is a critical stage to understand the potential impacts and final decision on the project's approval and its conditions.

Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ), a company incorporated in Zambia and a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co. Ltd (CNMC), has put forward a proposal for a significant expansion of its existing Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), designated TD15G. The company, which operates a copper concentrator and hydrometallurgical complex within the Kalulushi District, seeks to extend this facility to ensure robust, long-term management of tailings and to circumvent the necessity of developing new greenfield sites in the future. This initiative involves the expansion of the northern and southern embankments, alongside the construction of a new western embankment.

The expanded facility will be known as TD15G-1. Upon completion, the combined TD15G-1 facility is projected to offer a total storage capacity of 5.48 million cubic meters, with an effective capacity of 4.76 million cubic meters, encompassing an area of 0.47 square kilometers. Engineered to a height of 22.5 meters, the TSF will incorporate a 1.5 mm HDPE composite geomembrane anti-seepage layer. Tailings from the operational leaching plant will be conveyed to the facility via a dedicated HDPE pipeline, approximately 0.225 meters in diameter. Furthermore, specific systems are planned to manage any potential seepage that might bypass the liner due to construction defects or damage, ensuring environmental integrity. The project's operational lifespan is estimated at 10 years.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has officially received the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for this proposed Tailings Storage Facility extension Kalulushi project. The public hearing for the EIA was held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and the deadline for public comments was October 1, 2026. ZEMA is currently reviewing the report and public submissions in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011, read in conjunction with the Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 3 of 2026. These legal instruments mandate a thorough environmental review and public participation for projects of this nature. The EIA report was made available for public scrutiny during the public comment period.

The public hearing held on September 23, 2026, and the October 1, 2026 deadline for public comments provided a significant opportunity for stakeholders, particularly within Zambia's mining sector, to engage directly with the environmental assessment process for the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited TD15G expansion. This engagement is vital for ensuring transparency and accountability in large-scale industrial projects. The Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011 and the Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 3 of 2026, underscore the importance of public input in shaping environmental outcomes. Lawyers and compliance officers in Zambia's mining sector should now monitor the ongoing review process by ZEMA following the conclusion of the public comment period and hearing, as this is a critical stage to understand the potential impacts and final decision on the project's approval and its conditions. Active participation in this process allowed for the identification of potential environmental risks, the proposal of mitigation measures, and the safeguarding of community interests, thereby influencing the final decision on the project's approval and its conditions.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Zambia's mining sector should note the October 1, 2026 deadline for public comments and the September 23, 2026 public hearing regarding Sino-Metals Leach Zambia's proposed tailings facility extension, as this is a critical opportunity to engage with the EIA process and advise clients on environmental compliance and potential project impacts.

Source: Information derived from ZEMA public notice.