Chinese-Controlled Cobalt Mine Faces $6.3 Million Pollution Lawsuit in DR Congo

A Chinese-controlled copper and cobalt mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a US$6.3 million lawsuit from 27 residents who allege that its operations have contaminated local water sources and exposed surrounding communities to environmental and potential health risks.

The legal action targets COMMUS, a mining company in which China’s Zijin Mining holds a 67% controlling stake, alongside minority shareholders Gecamines, the Congolese state-owned mining company, and the government.

Filed at the Commercial Court in Kolwezi, the case seeks compensation for alleged environmental harm and funding to restore affected areas.

Residents seek compensation and environmental restoration

The claimants, including eight children, are demanding approximately US$1.3 million in damages and a further US$5 million for environmental restoration.

The lawsuit is supported by UK-based corporate watchdog RAID and Congolese nonprofit organisation AFREWATCH. The two organisations say scientific studies commissioned by them identified elevated particulate pollution and water contamination around the mining site.

The residents accuse COMMUS of damaging the local environment and contaminating water sources through its mining activities.

The legal action also names the Congolese government and the country’s environmental regulator, ACE, alleging that they failed to adequately monitor the mine and enforce environmental protection requirements.

COMMUS rejects pollution allegations

COMMUS has denied the allegations and indicated that it will contest the case in court.

In July 2026, the company maintained that its operations complied with Congolese environmental regulations. It also argued that historical mining activities and natural geological conditions could account for some of the reported pollution.

The dispute will therefore require the court to consider the evidence presented by the residents and supporting organisations alongside the company’s response.

Under the DRC’s 2018 Mining Code, mining companies can be held liable for environmental damage unless they demonstrate that the harm resulted from unrelated causes.

Previous mining pollution disputes in DR Congo

The case adds to a history of legal disputes involving communities seeking compensation for alleged environmental damage linked to mining activities in the DRC.

In 2014, a court in Kipushi ordered Compagnie Minière du Sud Katanga (CMSK), Gecamines and the Congolese government to pay US$6,000 to victims who accused mining operations of polluting the Kafubu River, damaging farmland and fish ponds, and killing fish.

However, lawyers representing the victims argued that the compensation awarded was inadequate.

Another dispute emerged in May 2023, when residents of Kalongo and Mulomba, near Kolwezi, sued Kalongwe Mining over alleged discharges of sulphuric acid and toxic waste into local waterways. By March 2024, the case was still at the preliminary legal stage, with no final judgment or compensation figure reported.

Environmental accountability in Africa’s cobalt sector

The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of environmental and community impacts associated with mineral extraction across Africa.

The DRC is the world’s leading cobalt producer, making environmental management and responsible mining particularly important as demand for minerals used in batteries, electric vehicles and other technologies continues to attract investment.

Similar allegations involving mining pollution, unsafe working conditions and community displacement have also emerged in countries including Zambia, Guinea and Zimbabwe.

For the DRC’s mining industry, the COMMUS case highlights the importance of effective environmental monitoring, transparent operations and mechanisms through which communities can seek redress.

The court proceedings will determine the claims against the company and other named parties. No final finding of liability or compensation award has been reported in the information available.