The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has ordered Chinese-owned mining company Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) to pay $6 million in compensation to three communities affected by an industrial wastewater spill, despite the suspension of the company’s operations.
The country’s Ministry of Mines said on Friday that CDM remains obligated to compensate residents of Kasapa, Kamatete and Kamisepe, which were affected by the incident in November 2025.
The company, a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has been directed to pay $2 million to each of the three communities.
The spill occurred after wastewater escaped from a containment basin at CDM’s facility in Lubumbashi, DR Congo’s second-largest city.
A government-commissioned investigation found high concentrations of lead, arsenic and other toxic substances in the affected water, as well as evidence of biodiversity loss.
The investigation further indicated that the containment basin, which was originally designed to retain water, had reportedly been used to store acidic solutions.
CDM has reportedly delayed the compensation payments, citing financial difficulties. However, the Mines Ministry has maintained that the suspension of operations does not absolve the company of its responsibility to compensate the affected communities.
The incident adds to growing environmental and legal scrutiny of mining operations in DR Congo, where communities are increasingly seeking compensation for pollution and damage associated with mining activities.
CDM is a major player in DR Congo’s copper and cobalt industry, producing materials used in the global electric vehicle battery supply chain.
Credit: Business Insider
