Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited, on 23 September 2026, proposed a US$7.5 million expansion of its TD15G tailings storage facility in Chambishi and presented the project during a public hearing as part of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The proposal attracted significant interest from community members and other stakeholders, who raised concerns regarding environmental safety, waste management practices and the adequacy of measures intended to prevent environmental harm.
The development is significant because it comes amid heightened public scrutiny of mining-waste management in Chambishi following the 2025 toxic waste spill involving a separate Sino Metals facility. Further, community members also expressed concern on potential displacement that may happen as a result of the facility, which may be likely to place locals at a disadvantage given past practices in mining communities. As a result, the approval process has become an important test of environmental accountability, regulatory oversight and the extent to which communities can meaningfully participate in decisions that may affect their environment and livelihoods.