---
title: "ESIS – Proposed Extension Of Tailings Storage Facility (Td15g‑1) By Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited In Chambishi, Kalulushi District, Copperbelt Province"
description: "Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ) is a Zambian‑incorporated company under PACRA and a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC). The company operates a copper concentrator and hydrometallurgical complex in Chambishi, Kalulushi District, Copperbelt Province. The existing…"
url: "https://www.zema.org.zm/docs/esis-proposed-extension-of-tailings-storage-facility-td15g-1-by-sino-metals-leach-zambia-limited-in-chambishi-kalulushi-district-copperbelt-province/"
updated: "2026-09-19"
category: Environmental Impact Statements
---

# ESIS – Proposed Extension Of Tailings Storage Facility (Td15g‑1) By Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited In Chambishi, Kalulushi District, Copperbelt Province

Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ) is a Zambian‑incorporated company under PACRA
and a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC). The company
operates a copper concentrator and hydrometallurgical complex in Chambishi, Kalulushi District,
Copperbelt Province. The existing Tailings Storage Facility (TD15G) is a flat‑type pond with a
total storage capacity of 1.836 million m³ and an area of approximately 130,000 m². The
construction of the tailings pond commenced in May 2023 and was completed in December 2024.
The TSF is a Class IV tailings pond and was put into use in January 2026 and is currently
operational.

To ensure long-term tailings management for the remaining ore (approximately 6 million tonnes)
and to avoid the need for future greenfield development, Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited now
proposes to extend the existing TSF by extending the northern and southern embarkments and
constructing a new western embarkment. The expanded tailings pond will be called TD15G-1. The
total storage capacity of the combined TD15G-1 facility will be 5.48 million m³ (effective capacity
4.76 million m³) and cover an area of 0.47km2
.

 [TSF 15G-1 EXTENSION ESIA- FINAL0812](https://www.zema.org.zm/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TSF-15G-1-EXTENSION-ESIA-FINAL0812.pdf)[Download](https://www.zema.org.zm/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/TSF-15G-1-EXTENSION-ESIA-FINAL0812.pdf)