UK mining giant settles Zambian lawsuit

More than 2 500 Zambian villagers are to receive an undisclosed settlement from UK-based mining giant Vedanta Resources following their pollution lawsuit. BBC News reports that the claimants live near the Nchanga Copper mine which is owned by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a Vedanta subsidiary. In 2015, they claimed a toxic discharge from the mine poisoned water sources and destroyed farmland. In a landmark ruling last year, the UK Supreme Court said the case could be fought in the UK courts. It noted that there was a risk the claimants would not be able to secure justice in the Zambian courts. A joint statement from UK-based law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, and Vedanta said the mining companies did not admit liability, but had settled all claims ‘for the benefit of the local community’. ‘It was claimed that toxic effluent discharge from the mine damaged local land and waterways used for irrigation and the use of polluted water for drinking, washing and bathing caused residents severe health problems,’ it said.

Full BBC News report