Rio Tinto faces a petition from 78,000 Madagascar residents demanding an end to alleged pollution at its ilmenite mine. The petition calls for independent water quality audits of the mineral sands operation.
A cited study indicates uranium levels in local waterways are 50 times higher than World Health Organization guidelines. Thousands of villagers are reportedly preparing a legal claim in London over the alleged contamination.
Rio Tinto is currently conducting a strategic review of the asset's future. The company previously disputed claims that its operations are responsible for water-quality concerns.
This controversy follows increased scrutiny of the miner’s environmental and social performance after the Juukan Gorge incident.