总部位于英国的企业监督机构RAID和总部位于刚果的非营利组织AFREWATCH表示，居住在刚果民主共和国一座由中国控制的大型钴矿附近的居民已对该矿运营方提起诉讼，索赔630万美元，指控污染损害了他们的健康。
Residents living near a major Chinese-controlled cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sued the mine's operator for $6.3 million, alleging that pollution harmed their health, according to UK-based corporate watchdog RAID and Congo-based nonprofit AFREWATCH.
RAID和AFREWATCH在一份声明中表示，这27名居民的诉讼指控紫金矿业（601899.SS）控股的COMMUS铜钴矿污染了环境。
The 27 residents' lawsuit alleges that the Zijin Mining- (601899.SS) controlled COMMUS copper and cobalt mine polluted the environment, RAID and AFREWATCH said in a statement.
两家组织表示，他们委托开展了科学研究，发现存在所指控的污染及其对环境的影响，并正在支持居民的诉讼。
The two groups said they commissioned the scientific studies that found the alleged pollution and effect on the environment, and are supporting the residents' lawsuit.
COMMUS对路透社表示，将对上述指控提出抗辩，并称公司认真对待对当地社区和环境的责任。
COMMUS told Reuters it would contest the allegations, and that it takes responsibilities towards the local community and the environment seriously.
原告包括八名儿童，他们寻求约130万美元的赔偿金以及500万美元的环境修复费用。
The claimants, including eight children, are seeking about $1.3 million in compensation and $5 million for environmental restoration.
根据刚果2018年的采矿法，企业可能要对环境损害承担责任，除非它们能证明损害是由与其运营无关的因素造成的。
Under Congo's 2018 mining code, companies can be held liable for environmental damage unless they can prove it was caused by factors unrelated to their operations under.
RAID和AFREWATCH在联合声明中表示：“如果胜诉，此案可能为其他居住在工业矿山附近的社区寻求正义铺平道路。”
"If successful, the case could pave the way for other communities living near industrial mines to seek justice," RAID and AFREWATCH said in their joint statement.
声明还称，这起诉讼提交至科卢韦齐商事法院，还将刚果政府和环境监管机构ACE列为被告，指控他们未能妥善监督该矿并执行相关法规。刚果矿业部和ACE未立即回应置评请求。法院也未立即回应路透社索取相关文件的请求。
The lawsuit, filed at the Commercial Court in Kolwezi, also targets the Congolese state and the environmental regulator ACE, accusing them of failing to properly monitor the mine and enforce regulations, the statement added. Congo's mines ministry and ACE did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The court did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for documents.
他们在声明中表示，诉讼引用了由RAID和AFREWATCH委托开展的科学研究，这些研究发现该矿附近颗粒物污染水平升高、水源受到污染。
The lawsuit cites scientific studies commissioned by RAID and AFREWATCH that found elevated levels of particulate pollution and contaminated water near the mine, they said in the statement.
COMMUS由紫金矿业持股67%，国营矿企Gecamines和刚果政府持有少数股权。据该公司称，其年产能超过12万吨铜和2000吨钴。刚果是世界最大的钴生产国和第二大铜生产国。
COMMUS is 67%-owned by Zijin Mining, with state miner Gecamines and the Congolese government holding minority stakes. It has production capacity of more than 120,000 metric tons of copper and 2,000 tons of cobalt per year, according to the company. Congo is the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer.