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Zambian Mine Spill Victims Seek $420 Million from Chinese Operator

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Residents affected by a large-scale toxic spill at a Zambian mine in February have demanded $420 million in compensation from the Chinese state-owned company that operates the site. The claims follow reports that the disaster may be one of the worst of its kind globally.

Two separate legal firms representing local communities have sent letters of demand to Sino Metals Leach Zambia Ltd. in recent days, according to documents and confirmations from the firms involved. The incident, which highlights the risks in meeting the surging global demand for critical minerals, has drawn attention from both US and Chinese governments.

One demand letter, from Malisa & Partners Legal Practitioners, seeks an immediate payment of $220 million. This interim compensation is intended to cover the relocation of 47 households from the Kalusale community, as well as their medical screening, testing, treatment, and livelihood restoration.

A second letter, from Malambo & Co., demands an immediate $200 million for an emergency fund to support its clients, who are described as “several residents of Kalusale” and other affected Zambians.

A spokesman for Sino Metals confirmed the company had received the letters and that they were with its legal department, declining further comment.

The claims come after an environmental impact assessment by Drizit Environmental (Pty) Ltd., a firm hired and later fired by Sino Metals, concluded that as much as 1.5 million tons of highly acidic mine waste were spilled. Sino Metals has since questioned the methodology used by Drizit.

In a recent statement, Drizit reported that about 900,000 cubic meters (238 million gallons) of toxic tailings remain in the environment. “These materials were found to contain dangerous levels of cyanide, arsenic, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium and other pollutants posing significant long-term health risks, including organ damage, birth defects and cancer,” the company said.

While various embassies have issued warnings to their citizens to avoid the area, Zambia’s government initially sought to downplay the threat. It later acknowledged finding dangerous levels of heavy metals in some water samples but has not yet commented on the latest compensation demands.

Last month, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that Sino Metals had “actively shouldered responsibility and pro-actively cooperated with the Zambian government.” The ministry also said the Zambian government had “spoke highly of the work done by the Chinese company.”

Port Bulk Material Handling Solution: Truck Unloader Combined with Mobile Ship Loader

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As core hubs for the transshipment of bulk materials such as ores, coal, aggregates, and cement, ports currently still face challenges including: traditional fixed equipment’s inability to adapt to multiple types of trucks and ship models, severe dust pollution during bulk material transshipment, difficult operation and maintenance (O&M) coordination among multi-brand equipment, and long cross-border supply cycles for spare parts. With 22 years of experience as a professional manufacturer and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) general contractor deeply engaged in the bulk material conveying equipment field, Zoomry Heavy Industry has developed the “Port Bulk Material Handling Solution: truck unloader Combined with Mobile Ship Loader” based on its in-depth understanding of overseas port scenarios. This solution fundamentally solves the bulk material handling challenges of overseas ports.

Core Requirements for Port Bulk Material Handling
Adaptability to Bulk Materials and Ship Models: Overseas ports often handle bulk materials with different physical properties, such as nickel ore (moist, sticky, and prone to clogging), coal (dust-prone), and aggregates (high hardness). They also need to accommodate various ship models, ranging from Barges (100-5000 DWT – Deadweight Tonnage) and Handysize vessels (10000-35000 DWT) to Capesize vessels (80000-120000 DWT). The operating height (usually ≤10m) and handling capacity (≤800 tph – tons per hour) of traditional fixed ship loaders cannot meet the needs of large-tonnage ships, requiring additional transshipment links that increase costs.
Site and Terrain Constraints: Some ports in Southeast Asia and Africa are old-aged terminals with narrow spaces and poor ground flatness. The installation of fixed equipment requires large-scale civil engineering (e.g., concrete foundation pouring), which not only incurs high investment costs (accounting for over 40% of the total project cost) and a long construction period (6-12 months) but also fixes the equipment in place, making it unable to adjust to dynamic changes in the port’s operation areas.
Environmental Compliance Pressure: Markets such as the EU, Japan, and South Korea have strict standards for dust emissions (e.g., the EU CE certification requires a dust concentration of ≤10mg/m³) and noise control (≤55dB – decibels). Traditional open-type unloading and ship loading equipment easily cause dust dispersion and high-decibel noise, which may lead to port fines or production suspension for rectification. Meanwhile, overseas ports have high requirements for equipment safety redundancy to prevent sudden failures such as belt deviation and wire rope breakage.
Spare Parts Supply Bottlenecks: Ports using multi-brand equipment often encounter issues such as incompatible control systems and inconsistent O&M standards. Additionally, the cross-border transportation cycle for spare parts can be as long as 1-3 months. Once core components (e.g., idlers, rollers) are damaged, equipment downtime increases, directly affecting bulk material transshipment efficiency.
Integrated Equipment Solution
Zoomry’s integrated “Truck Unloader + Mobile Ship Loader” solution, centered on “seamless connection, flexible adaptation, and efficient compliance”, enables “one-stop” transshipment of bulk materials from trucks to ships through the coordinated operation of two core types of equipment. Meanwhile, it ensures long-term stable operation relying on self-developed core components.

Mobile Truck Unloader
As a key member of Zoomry’s radial stacker product line, the mobile truck unloader is specifically designed to address the connection pain points between “trucks and port conveying”. It is available in both wheeled and tracked configurations (models include wheeled ZRLS-TU1400/ZRLS-TU1800 and tracked ZRLD-TU1400/ZRLD-TU1800), with core features fully adapted to the needs of overseas ports:

High Capacity: Handling capacity ranges from 200 to 1800 tph, with a belt width of 1400-1800mm, compatible with mainstream 30-50 ton dump trucks. The hopper width supports customization from 3.5m to 5.7m, and it is equipped with a low-tail feeding design, allowing feeding without adjusting the truck’s position and adapting to auxiliary equipment such as wheel loaders and excavators.
All-Terrain Flexible Mobility: Wheeled models adopt extra-heavy-duty tires, suitable for operations on hardened roads; tracked models are equipped with high-adhesion tracks, enabling free movement on muddy terrain and steep slopes (≤15°) without the need for additional hardened road paving, significantly reducing the port’s initial transformation costs.
Sealing and Anti-Clogging Design: Rubber skirts are installed at the bottom of the hopper, reducing the material spillage rate to below 0.3%; an optimized built-in grille filters large impurities (e.g., ores with a diameter >200mm) to prevent clogging; for moist and sticky bulk materials (e.g., nickel ore in Indonesia), customized heated hopper walls can be provided to prevent material sticking to the wall and caking.
Intelligent and Convenient Control: Supports radio remote control (control distance ≤100m), enabling simultaneous operation of 2-4 truck channels; the ramp angle can be adjusted manually or hydraulically (max. 6.7°) to adapt to truck compartments of different heights, reducing manual intervention and increasing unloading efficiency by over 30%.

Mobile Ship Loader
Zoomry’s mobile ship loader (ZRSL series), focused on “full ship model coverage and intelligent compliance”, can be directly connected to the mobile truck unloader to achieve seamless transshipment of bulk materials from unloading to ship loading:

Flexible Adaptability: Compatible with ship models ranging from 100-5000 DWT Barges, 10000-35000 DWT Handysize vessels to 80000-120000 DWT Capesize vessels, with an operating clearance height ranging from 0 to 16m. It features radial rotation (max. 110°), telescoping (boom length ≤50m), and luffing functions, enabling precise material distribution according to the cargo hold position and full-hold loading without moving the ship.
Efficient Conveying: Adopts PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) fully automatic “wind-shielded stockpiling” technology, reducing material segregation and breakage rate to below 0.5% while minimizing dust dispersion. The belt adopts a sealed design, and combined with non-powered dust-collecting chutes, the dust emission concentration is ≤8mg/m³ and the noise level is controlled below 45dB, fully compliant with EU CE and Russian EAC environmental standards.
Safety and Convenience: Equipped with dual safety guarantees – mechanical self-locking within 0.01 seconds in case of wire rope breakage, and automatic shutdown when belt deviation occurs. The equipment can be disassembled into modular components and loaded into 40-foot HQ (High Cube) containers, reducing overseas transportation costs by 20%. On-site assembly takes only 10-20 days, and Zoomry provides on-site guidance by engineers to shorten the project implementation cycle.
Long Service Life: Core drive components use SEW/FLENDER gear motors (optional), with energy consumption 15% lower than that of traditional ship loaders. Rollers are made of 40Cr forged steel (diameter ≥200mm), undergoing ultrasonic flaw detection and stress relief treatment, with a service life exceeding 50,000 hours, reducing equipment downtime for maintenance.

Roundtable: Redesigning Revenue Models and Go-to-Market for the AI Era

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The way companies generate revenue is evolving—faster and more radically than ever before. From usage-based pricing and outcome-driven models to ecosystem monetization and entirely new approaches, one question looms large for every leader: how do we choose the right model—and scale it effectively?

This exclusive, invite-only gathering brings together senior executives who are tackling these same challenges head-on. Together, we’ll explore:

How to evaluate and select the revenue model that fits your business best

How to adapt sales, marketing, and customer success motions to match new models

The organizational shifts required to execute GTM effectively

Where companies succeed—and where they stumble—when making the transition

Why Attend

Learn from peers: Gain insight into how other executives are navigating this pivotal moment and weighing options in today’s AI-driven landscape.

Get clarity on trade-offs: Understand the benefits and risks across subscription, usage-based, and hybrid models.

Walk away with a playbook: Leave with practical strategies to align product, finance, and commercial teams—and a roadmap to design and execute your next GTM approach.

Who Should Join

C-level executives and senior GTM leaders responsible for driving growth through evolving business models.

Format

An intimate event featuring:

Panels and keynotes packed with practical insights, real-world learnings, and emerging trends

Networking reception with industry peers, giving you a chance to connect, share, and build relationships in a collaborative setting

Seats are limited—this event is designed for meaningful conversation and high-impact exchange among leaders.

Cobre and Sandfire kick off joint airborne surveys over Kalahari copper belt projects

Cobre Ltd has kicked off a collaborative airborne gravity gradient (AGG) survey with neighbour Sandfire Resources, covering a large portion of the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), including Cobre’s Ngami Copper Project, Kitlanya West and Kitlanya East (KITE) Projects.

Notably, the results are expected to provide valuable information on KCB basin architecture and the location of sub-basins, margins and controlling structures where copper-silver mineralisation may be targeted.

The survey will complement results from the recently completed 5,000-metre diamond drilling, ongoing soil sampling, and aircore and reverse circulation drill programs, providing valuable additional data for area and target prioritisation at Kitlanya West and Ngami Projects.

Furthermore, AGG results may also help in the detection of copper-silver bearing trap sites analogous to Sandfire’s neighbouring T3 and A4 deposits at KITE, providing new targets for drill testing.

Significant insights

Cobre CEO Adam Wooldridge said: “We are pleased to announce that the AGG survey, in collaboration with Sandfire, is finally underway. These results are expected to provide significant insights into our understanding of the regional controls for copper distribution in the KCB.

“They will also provide a new targeting tool to complement our other datasets. The deliverables from this survey are expected to be highly complementary to the results from our ongoing aircore, reverse circulation drilling and soil sampling programs at KITW as well as providing further context for the distribution of copper-silver grades at NCP.

“Additionally, the results over the KITE project will be particularly interesting given its proximity to the T3 deposit and potential for hosting similar styles of deposit.”

Survey background

Gravity data is routinely used for mapping sedimentary basins where it provides a cost-effective method for modelling the basin architecture, often key to understanding the distribution of sedimentary copper deposits.

This is demonstrated in the historical regional ground gravity data over the north-eastern portion of the KCB where correlations are evident between the margins of gravity lows and known copper-silver deposits.

The higher resolution AGG is expected to build on these correlations, identifying further priority sites for copper-silver deposits as well as providing important structural information and potentially identifying trap-site targets where mineralisation may be economically upgraded.

Ivanhoe Updates On Sustainability Initiatives

Ivanhoe Mines, a diversified miner with a 26-year history in the African mining sector, is aiming to enhance the sustainability goals of the group and its flagship Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The company plans to utilize hydropower potential and abundant sunshine to decarbonize the mining industry, while also exploring various options to increase alternative power solutions. Ivanhoe has obtained approval for environmental and social impact assessment amendments for Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3, while it awaits the same for its Platreef project in South Africa. The latter is expecting to receive power from a 5 MVA solar power plant before year-end, and evaluating other power options.

The company has also completed a greenhouse gas alternatives analysis for Kamoa-Kakula and implemented GHG emissions programs to reduce emissions. Additionally, the company has established a biodiversity project nursery and an apiary as sanctuaries for pollinators, promoting natural habitation and plant diversity.

To meet local procurement obligations, Ivanhoe has implemented targeted enterprise and supplier development programs, which have supported seven informal enterprises and 41 formal enterprises. Additionally, eight opportunities have been exclusively earmarked for local community suppliers.

The company is also building the Kamoa Centre of Excellence to create a sustainable and community-focused higher learning environment.

The community development initiatives of Ivanhoe have provided communities with valuable infrastructure, as well as supported local businesses and established value chains in the areas around the mining complexes. These initiatives also include investments in sustainable agriculture and farming, early childhood education, and gender equality.

START WITH CHUTE DESIGN TO REDUCE DUST, SAYS WEBA

Many industrial facilities, mines and power stations rely too much on dust suppression and extraction systems, when the real answer is to improve the flow of material through well designed chutes.

 

This is the considered opinion of Weba Chute Systems technical director Alwin Nienaber, based on decades of experience in this field. His view is that 50% to 80% of the dust problem around conveyors and transfer points can be resolved by applying the right chute system design and positioning equipment correctly.

 

“Many of the dust suppression and dust extraction systems that are applied in these applications are expected to do more than they are capable of,” says Nienaber. “A preferable approach is to get the chute design right first, and then apply these other systems to deal with the residual dust load.”

 

He explains that the advantages of doing this extend well beyond the health and safety benefits. He has seen more than a few situations where the dust created by a poorly designed chute can prevent personnel from moving or working in that area. This often prevents the checking or maintenance of critical equipment during operating hours, requiring more downtime to wait – literally – for the dust to settle.

 

“In examples like this, excessive dust can reduce an operation’s efficiency, so there is an opportunity to improve overall productivity by fixing the dust problem,” he says. “Other equipment in these areas also gets heavily coated with dust, and needs regular cleaning to ensure optimal performance. Cleaning becomes yet another avoidable cost.”

 

To address excessive dust creation, a good chute design is based on understanding the physics of material flow – and avoiding uncontrolled velocity and impact. A lack of control over the way material flows will degrade the material and create higher levels of aeration – which is what leads to dust dispersal.

 

“Our philosophy at Weba Chute Systems is to ensure that material flows more easily and remains consolidated as a homogenous stream,” he explains. “We base our designs on the ‘supertube’ effect, which also allows the controlled transfer of material onto the conveyor belt. Not only does this reduce dust, but it also cuts down on the wear rate of the belt itself.”

Seepex’s new BF range of pumps has been tailored to the needs of the growing battery production industry.

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The gigafactories being built around the world to meet the huge demand for lithium-ion batteries in the automotive, electronics and semiconductor industries require a large number of pumps.

In battery production, chemical resistance and chemically compatible materials are required to avoid contamination of valuable raw materials. During the critical process of formulation, continuity and high repeatability are essential. Contamination-free pumps are also needed for smooth operation. The coating process plays another important role, as the pump has a direct impact on product quality by minimizing variations in coating thickness.

The Seepex BF pump is precisely tailored to these requirements; ensuring safety, cleanliness, high product quality and cost efficiency. The maintenance-friendly design reduces downtime and the total cost of ownership (TCO). The clamp connections for quick installation/removal and the removable rotating unit simplify replacement and maintenance work. With proper maintenance the robust pump has a long product life.

The Seepex BF pump can be installed quickly, has a flow rate of up to 30 m³/h and operates at a pressure of up to 12 bar. It is available in block or bare shaft design and can meet customer-specific drive requirements. A TA-Luft or ATEX certified version is also available.

“Operational safety and maximum cleanliness when using valuable dispersed raw materials were the driving forces behind the development of the BF range,” says Thomas Dufner, Battery Market Manager at Seepex. “It helps reduce total cost of ownership and improve energy efficiency in virtually all battery applications by eliminating contamination and being easy to maintain. Cleaning cycle failures and disposal of contaminated battery compounds are not only wasteful, but also very costly.”

“Chemical resistance and chemically compatible materials are necessary to prevent contamination of expensive raw materials,” added Dufner. “With BF, we assure that the materials are chemically compatible. The stainless steel design and flexible titanium shaft ensure contamination-free product quality. Contamination by oil or grease is impossible. The pumps can be thoroughly cleaned with common solvents and deionized water.”

Battery compounds, from lithium to electrolyte, can be added to the mixing process in precise, drop-by-drop doses. Continuity and high repeatability are critical during the formulation process. In the coating process, the pump has a direct impact on product quality by minimizing variations in coating thickness. The BF range achieves this continuity and high repeatability by using the Seepex progressive cavity pump principle with the advantage of extremely low pulsation. This ensures the highest dosing accuracy, resulting in better coating results and more accurate slurry recipes.

Seepex progressive cavity pumps, with their special design, have no spillage or leakage due to their high degree of sealability. In addition, a wide range of seals is available for different battery compounds.

Seepex, which is part of the Ingersoll Rand Group, produces its battery pumps in Shanghai, China and Bottrop, Germany in order to be able to offer large quantities with short delivery times.

Switzerland’s Maag Group is expanding its presence in China creating additional production capacity and introducing new products specifically for the Chinese market.

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Maag has been stepping up its localization strategy in China since 2022 where it currently employs 103 people. Recently, for example, Maag’s assembly shop in Jiading, a district of Shanghai, has doubled in size.

“With this expansion, Maag is now well positioned for the further expansion of its localization activities in China,” says Ueli Thürig, president of the Maag Group. “‘Made in China for China’ is one of the key strategies our company has been focusing on in recent years; more than 90% of the equipment assembled in our Shanghai plant is intended for the Chinese market.”

Maag already produces GA series extrusion pumps, BAOLI strand pelletizers and ZHULI underwater pelletizers in China. A similarly adapted version of the M-USG underwater strand pelletizing system will now expand the market-specific portfolio as the C-USG. The original German design will form the basis for this new version. While some key components will be supplied from Germany, the majority of parts will come from local production. The first C-USG systems will be delivered to customers at the end of 2023.

The added space will also accommodate a new service center for the Maag/Ettlinger recycling filter to enable MAAG to serve local customers more quickly. MAAG is responding to the increased number of continuous melt filters installed across Asia.

The Maag Group is a business unit of Pumps & Process Solutions, a segment of the Dover Corporation.

Hayward Tyler acquires Slack & Parr assets from administration

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lack & Parr is a family-owned manufacturer of specialist pumps and a supplier of high-precision gear metering pumps, hydraulics flow dividers and industrial pumps to customers around the world. Founded in 1917, Slack & Parr operates from a 64,000 sq ft state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kegworth, Derbyshire, UK. The business also has facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA and Shanghai, China. The acquisition has secured the employment of 100 skilled employees.

Slack & Parr entered into administration on 3 July 2023, following ongoing losses and funding issues.

“We are pleased to have completed this acquisition, which brings another globally-respected, British heritage brand under the direction of the Avingtrans team,” said Austen Adams, divisional managing director at Avingtrans. “The sorts of challenges this business has faced are familiar to us and we are experienced in resolving them, having successfully turned around other businesses under similar circumstances. Slack & Parr’s global footprint, combined with its well-invested operational capability, powerful brand, highly skilled workforce and large installed base provide a great opportunity to re-establish the business on a firm footing going forward.”

Edward Barrington, managing director of Slack & Parr, added: “We are delighted to be part of Avingtrans and eagerly anticipate the opportunities this partnership will unlock for the business. Together, we are confident we can build on our heritage of precision engineering and continue to provide our clients with the quality and reliability they have come to expect from us.”

KSB inaugurates valve technology centre in Luxembourg

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The Sihi Boost UltraPlus vacuum pump is the next evolution of Flowserve Sihi Boost pump systems, which were introduced in 2013. This new and improved pump design retains all the advantages of the original Sihi Boost pumps — including oil-free operation and full electronic synchronization — and cuts re-acceleration time up to 50%. These performance enhancements were made possible by cooling improvements, upgrading materials to withstand the highest load scenarios and a new gap distribution strategy.

The unit can provide a compression ratio (K0) of up to 100,000:1, which is exponentially higher than the rate of the highest-performing Roots-type blower (maximum 75:1).

“Sihi Boost UltraPLUS vacuum pumps raise the industry standard by delivering the fastest pump-down and cycle times available for load lock applications,” said Stefan Lähn, global product portfolio leader — vacuum pumps, compressors and systems for Flowserve. “By just changing the vacuum system, you can potentially double the output of your existing process equipment.”