Three Detained in Ting River Acid Spill Investigation

Preliminary investigation results stated that Zijin Mining Group failed to fix the copper smelting plant's pollution monitoring system; three were detained on criminal charges

Three executives from the Zijinshan Copper Mine smelting plant were detained by the Shanghang County Public Security Bureau, local government officials announced at a press conference on July 15. The director, vice director and an environmental engineer of the mining company were detained on criminal charges.

Officials discovered that the plant’s pollution monitoring system was flawed in September 2009, but the system was not replaced by the company. According to preliminary investigation results released by the Shanghang county government at the press conference, the Zijin Mining Group illegally diverted its wastewater to the Ting River.

Chen Junan, head of the Shanghang County Environmental Protection Bureau, resigned days after the accident was announced.

Wastewater from a Zijinshan Copper Mine smelting plant leaked copper acid into the nearby Ting River in Shanghang county of Fujian Province on July 3, resulting in the poisoning of 1,890 tons of fish and massive economic losses for local fishermen.

Zijin Mining Group disclosed the incident to the public on July 13, nine days after the accident occurred. The company announced that about 9,100 cubic meters of wastewater containing copper acid flowed into the Ting River water near the plant.