Vedanta on the block in Zambia

Vedanta on the block in Zambia

16th November 2006

Last month, as reported in detail on this site, the US Blacksmith Institute identified what it called "world's most polluted places". One of these is the Kabwe region of Zambia, blighted by heavy metals (in particular lead and cadmium) which are estimated to affect 250,000 people.

We pointed out then that, though the lead operations have been closed down, "...toxic disharges have recently been identified as continuing into the region's main river from a copper tailings leach plant operated by UK-listed Vedanta Resources'"

Now, barely a month afterwards, Vedanta has been accused by the Zambian environmental authourities of putatively criminal negligence at precisely this site.