China's leading gold producer Zijin Mining Co. said on October 7 it had received punitive decisions from Fujian provincial authorities, including a fine of 9.56 million yuan ($1.43 million) for severe water pollution caused by its subsidiary copper plant.

The copper plant, whose waste water leak killed large quantities of fish in a local river in Fujian Province, was also asked to implement rectification measures and clear up pollution, said Zijin, a listed company in Hong Kong, in a statement filed to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Receiving the decisions sent on September 30 from Fujian's provincial department of environmental protection, Zijin said it would "comply with the punishment" in a timely manner.

Two leakages of acidic copper solution at the Zijinshan Gold and Copper Mine copper plant, occurring on July 3 and July 16 respectively, resulted in material water pollution of the Tingjiang River, causing a direct economic loss of more than 31 million yuan ($4.6 million).