Paladin refutes reports of dam flooding

Paladin Energy Limited has downplayed media reports that the company’s dams at Kayelekera uranium mining site in Karonga were flooding.

Last week, media reports from the site revealed that uranium stakeout dams at Kayelekera were flooding and were releasing toxic materials into the environment.

According to the reports, the flooding forced out contaminated water to Sere River, a tributary of Rukuru River that runs down to Lake Malawi.

The reports further sprouted out fears that people around these water sources are at risk since they will be drinking and using contaminated water.

However, Paladin Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Molyneux described the reports as “untrue” arguing that despite the heavy rains in the district the dams cannot flood.

In a letter addressed to Paladin Limited stakeholders, Molyneux argued that the designers of the dams anticipated such situations and took measures to prevent disaster.

“Paladin Energy Ltd notes media / blog reports indicating water from a tailings facility at Kayelekera Mine in Malawi has released into the environment. Such reports are untrue. The Company assures stakeholders that no tailings water has been released into the environment at Kayelekera Mine.

“Water inventory in the Kayelekera Mine tailings storage facility increased due to the heavy rainfall events. However, the freeboard levels remain within the approved operating design criteria and this facility continues to be actively monitored and managed,” reads part of the statement by Paladin.

Meanwhile the Advocacy Campaign for Inclusive Extractive Industry in Malawi under the Church and Society in the Synod of Livingstonia has asked the office of Karonga District Commissioner (DC) to investigate on the flooding of the dams.