CALL FOR COMMENTS AND NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING

CALL FOR COMMENTS AND NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING

REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY (TD15G) IN CHAMBISHI OF KALULUSHI DISTRICT

BY SINO-METALS LEACH ZAMBIA LIMITED (SMLZ)

Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ) is a Zambian‑incorporated company and a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co. Ltd (CNMC). The company operates a copper concentrator and hydrometallurgical complex in Kalulushi District.

The Company proposes to extend the existing Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) namely TD15G to ensure long-term tailings management and to avoid the need for future greenfield development. The works will involve extension of 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.

The TSF will be a 22.5 m fully engineered tailings dam lined with a 1.5 mm HDPE composite geomembrane anti-seepage layer. Tailings from the existing leaching plant will be pumped via a dedicated HDPE pipeline of approximately 0.225 m diameter. To manage any potential seepage that may bypass the liner through construction defects or damage, the following systems will be in place:

The estimated lifespan of the proposed project is expected to be 10 years.