Global green groups target Zijin Mining
March 31, 2011 Category Environment, Pollution
Four environmental organizations have accused Zijin Mining Group of failing to disclose pollution, and of violence and killings at its Peruvian copper mines. The company is China’s largest gold producer and also mines copper, zinc and iron. It was fined CNY30 million for hazardous-waste water leaks in Fujian last year. It is fighting lawsuits from 852 individuals in Guangdong who seek CNY170 million in compensation for damages caused by the leaks. The non-governmental organizations sent a letter to Christine Kan at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, urging it to ensure Zijin discloses recent events at its Peruvian copper mine to its shareholders. They alleged that Zijin failed to obtain proper approval from local communities before conducting exploration and that it was fined for breaching environmental laws. The letter was signed by CooperAccion and the Ecumenical Foundation for Peace and Development, both based in Lima, as well as Friends of the Earth in the United States and Belgium’s Catapa, the South China Morning Post reports. In April 2007, Zijin bought a 36% indirect interest in the Rio Blanco mine in the mountainous Piura region of northern Peru. Three years ago, Zijin’s Chairman Chen Jinghe said it would delay construction and scale down investment in the project. In September 2007, three towns in northern Peru voted against the project, fearing it would pollute rich agricultural lands. The mine is expected to produce 200,000 tons of copper a year, more than double Zijin’s 2009 copper production of 85,000 tons. A Zijin official said the company was considering raising its stake in the project, which is expected to start production next year.
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