Rio Tinto faces legal claim over alleged water contamination in Madagascar

More than 6,500 people in Madagascar have filed a legal claim in London’s High Court against Rio Tinto, alleging that its mineral sands operation has caused dangerous environmental contamination. The claimants, represented by law firm Leigh Day, allege that acidic wastewater containing uranium, lead, and other metals was discharged into lakes and waterways used for drinking, cooking, washing, and irrigation. The group includes more than 2,000 children.

The lawsuit concerns Rio Tinto’s QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) mine, which produces ilmenite for titanium dioxide. The claimants are seeking compensation and court orders to require remediation and an end to further contamination. This follows previous community protests in May 2022 regarding water releases and subsequent fish deaths, though Rio Tinto stated its sampling found no link between the release and the deaths.

Rio Tinto has stated it has been notified of the claim but has not yet received specific details to comment on. The company maintains that QMM conducts extensive water monitoring, noting that its 2025 Water Report found most regulated metals and uranium samples were below laboratory detection limits in surrounding rivers.