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(HERALD) Zambian miners trapped as power fails

Zambian miners trapped as power fails
The Times of Zambia.

LUSAKA. OVER 300 miners were on Saturday night trapped in cages at both Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) due to power failure, which was experienced countrywide. And the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has called on the government to investigate and establish the cause of the power failure. Mineworkers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ) general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe confirmed the development in Kitwe on Sunday.

Munyenyembe said about 369 miners were trapped in the cages and were only evacuated on Sunday at around 06:00 hours. He said the union was concerned about the safety of the miners because once they were trapped, ventilation underground got affected.

Munyenyembe said there was need to seriously investigate and establish what led to the power failure. He said 179 miners were trapped at Konkola, 90 at Mindolo North and 100 at South Ore Body, Nkana.

But CEC managing director Neil Croucher said it was important that investigations were launched to establish the cause of the power failure. Croucher said although some miners in various mines were trapped, the company managed to switch on its Democratic Republic of Congo interconnector power system.

He said although the company did not know what led to the power failure, it suspected that there was a problem between Kariba North Bank and Leopards Hill in Lusaka due to lightning.

He said there was need to check with Zesco which, he said, would be able to issue a statement on the matter.

Croucher said power went off at around 19:38 hours but that the company was able to switch on its DRC power system around 20:00 hours.

He said power was sufficient to prevent loss of life underground in the mines.

In an interview earlier, investor relations manager Clare Musama said the company later in the night switched on gas turbine alternators, which, she said, continued in the night until 06:00 hours when power was restored.

Musama said by Press time, the company was still monitoring the flow of power to the mines due to voltage variations.

Meanwhile, pumps at Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) treatment plant were not able to pump water due to the power failure, a situation that led to water shortage in Kitwe.

NWSC public relations manager Damaseke Chibale confirmed the development in Kitwe yesterday.

Chibale said the pumps could only pump water from yesterday at around 08:00 hours when power was restored.

And when contacted for a comment, KCM spokesperson Sam Equamo said he had not yet received a report on the miners being trapped.

Equamo said the company would only be able to issue a comprehensive statement today.

He, however, said part of Konkola was flooded and that they recorded some damages at the smelter in Kitwe. — The Times of Zambia.

Labels: MINING, THE HERALD, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 7:12 PM