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Ndola Lime dust pollution unacceptable - ECZ

Ndola Lime dust pollution unacceptable - ECZ
By Nomusa Michelo
Wednesday April 04, 2007 [04:00]

THE Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has described the dust pollution by Ndola Lime as unacceptable. In an interview, ECZ spokesperson Justine Mukosa said dust pollution is a nuisance and that the ECZ would determine a course of action on Ndola Lime depending on the reasons advanced for the illegal pollution by the company. "The pollution is unacceptable. Even if it is chemically neutral it is still a nuisance. Dust itself is a nuisance, it doesn't mean they haven't polluted, regardless of what the dust contains," he said.

Mukosa also said the ECZ would also have to determine the chemical content of the dust that was emitted to see if it had any effects on the people of Ndola. He explained that Ndola Lime had over the weekend used an old kiln, which did not have dust suppressant. "We will determine course of action after the meeting we have with them. I can't say whether it contains chemicals," he said.

Mukosa explained that Ndola Lime had decided to use its old rotary kiln, which was responsible for the dust pollution, without informing the ECZ. He said the rotary kiln had no dust suppressant system. "Of late they have been using their kiln, a vertical kiln which doesn't have much impact," he said. "When they want to switch on that kiln they have to inform us," said Mukosa. "They actually fired without informing us. But, immediately, we heard that there was a problem we wrote to them directing them to shut down the kiln. We have also done the inspection."

Labels: ECZ, MINING

posted by MrK @ 11:04 PM