Paladin rejects Malawi toxic waste accusation, warns lawsuit to NGOs

Uranium miner Paladin Energy has rejected allegations  by nongovernment organisations (NGOs) in Malawi that it is discharging toxic waste from its Kayelekera uranium mine into a local river system in the northern border district of Karonga.

The company said  on Monday that the accusations by the groups and individuals openly hostile to the company, contained “misleading statements” intended to cause alarm and distress to local communities in Malawi.

Paladin said it would pursue legal steps against the relevant NGOs if the  blatant falsehoods  around the company’s  water treatment plans continued.

“Paladin emphatically refutes these accusations and will pursue legal steps unless these perpetrators of gross misinformation cease their dissemination of irresponsible and misleading fabrications,” the company said.

The miner uses captured run-off water during the production and processing of uranium ore at Kayelekera. The water is then recycled.

Paladin said once water treatment and release started, Paladin would undertake constant environmental monitoring in the process, which would be monitored and regulated by the Malawi government to meet internationally-recognised discharge standards including the World Health Organisation’s drinking water guideline for uranium content.

“The controlled water release is necessary to avoid any possible unplanned and uncontrolled discharge of run-off water contained in storage ponds at Kayelekera during the period of care and maintenance,” the company said.