Fatal Extraction

Australian Mining's Damaging Push Into Africa

Australia is a giant in African mining, but its vast, sometimes deadly footprint has never been examined – until now.

In this investigation

👁 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 | July 8, 2015

👁 Explore the Fatal Extraction data

Explore the Data

Explore the Data: Where Australian Mining Leaves Its Mark

There were more than 150 publicly traded Australian mining companies present in 33 African nations at the end of 2014.

By Cecile S. Gallego | July 9, 2015

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

Explore the Fatal Extraction Stories Across Africa

Mining companies digging up a deadly footprint across Africa.

By Adi Eyal | September 9, 2015

Latest from Fatal Extraction

👁 Children in southern Mali who live near one of the country's oldest gold mines

From our partners

Investigation Reveals ‘Environmental Ruin’ And Workers Rights Abuses

Jul 16, 2015

👁 A platinum mine looms over a nearby settlement in South Africa

Key figures

150 Companies, 1500 Licenses, 33 Countries: Fatal Extraction By The Numbers

Jul 15, 2015

👁 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

Fatal Extraction: Australian Mining in Africa

Jul 10, 2015

👁 A safety message at a South African mining operation

Data guide

Data and Field Work Combine to Reveal Australian Mining’s Impact in Africa

Jul 10, 2015

👁 Australian mining companies have been linked with hundreds of deaths in Africa since 2004

Australia's presence

Companies Accused of ‘Taking Advantage of Regulatory Weakness’

Jul 10, 2015

👁 Trucks arrive at a mine in mine in Malawi

Key Findings

Jul 08, 2015

👁 Caldwell Sichinga was burned in an explosion at a mine site in Malawi

A damaging mining boom

Australian Mining Companies Digging A Deadly Footprint in Africa

Jul 08, 2015

Read all stories from Fatal Extraction

Key findings

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.