Fatal Extraction: Australian Mining's Damaging Push Into Africa

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, locals near Kilwa's port look out over Lake Mweru from where Anvil Mining once shipped its copper and silver

About This Project: Fatal Extraction

Fatal Extraction is an international collaboration combining corporate data and extensive field reporting to reveal deaths, injuries and community conflicts linked to Australian mining companies across Africa.

By Gerard Ryle

Jul 08, 2015

Explore the Data

Where Aussie Mining Leaves Its Mark

By Cecile S. Gallego

Jul 09, 2015

A platinum mine in northern South Africa seen from a nearby informal settlement

Explore the Devastating Stories Across Africa

By Adi Eyal

Sep 09, 2015

Since the beginning of 2004, more than 380 people have died in mining accidents or in off-site skirmishes connected to Australian publicly-traded mining companies in 13 countries in Africa.
Australian mining companies are more numerous than those from other mining giants such as Canada, the United Kingdom and China. At the end of 2014, more than 150 companies held about 1500 licenses and owned or managed dozens of mining operations across 33 countries in Africa.
Multiple Australian mining companies are accused of negligence, unfair dismissal, violence and environmental law-breaking across Africa, according to legal filings and community petitions gathered from South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana.
Australian state and federal government entities, including government workers’ pension funds, have invested in controversial Australian mining companies operating in Africa.