Dirty Precious Metals: Dumping European Toxic Waste in Tsumeb, Namibia

Based on a visit to Namibia this report assesses the environmental and social standards at the Tsumeb smelter, acquired by Canadian Dundee Precious Metals in 2010. The smelter specialises in working with some of the dirtiest copper concentrates half of which sourced from the Chelopech gold and copper mine in Bulgaria. The concentrates are extremely rich in arsenic and according to our calculations most of the toxic arsenic trioxide that comes as a by-product of the smelting is being dumped in Namibia, leading to severe health impacts for locals.