Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Miners at Nampundwe fight KCM over asset stripping

Miners at Nampundwe fight KCM over asset stripping
Monday, April 20, 2009, 11:17

Miners at Nampundwe mine have vowed to stop the mine management from stripping the mine of its assets. The miners disclosed that Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) has notified them of its intention to shift the Nampundwe Larox Filter to Chingola Mine.

But the miners have stated that the removal of the Larox filter will signify the end of operations for Nampundwe as the Larox is the heart of the mine.

‘ This will be done over our dead bodies as the removal of the Larox filter will signify the end of operations for Nampundwe as the Larox is the heart of the mine,’ they stated.

This came to light yesterday when officials from the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) met Mwembeshi Member of Parliament Edward Kasoko to discuss the way forward over the impending closure of the mine.

NUMAW Nampundwe Branch Chairman Oliver Mwangala said only President Rupiah Banda can remove the Larox Filter from the mine and no-one else.

He said it is sad that the mine proprietor Vedanta of India is trying to remove equipment that was bought by Anglo American Corporation (AAC).

He said the current investor for Nampundwe mine, has only managed to buy a mini bus, an ambulance and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

“ If they want to close the mine, there is no problem but they should leave the infrastructure intact. This is because any interested investor will not buy Nampundwe mine in the absence of the Larox Filter,” they said.

In an internal memo from KCM Nchanga Human Resource Manager George Mutono dated 2 April, 2009 , announced the appointment of Nisheet Khandewal as a project Engineer for the Larox Filter.

His responsibilities were to among others improve the availability and reliability of the running filter and to shift the Nampundwe Larox Filter , install and commission it at Chingola mine.

The miners said as proof that the mine is about to close , KCM headquarters has stopped sending trucks to collect Pyrite from Nampundwe.

They said a few weeks ago about 18 to 20 trucks would be sent to the mine to collect Pyrite per day.

The miners said the mine had produced enough Pyrite such that even if 50 trucks are sent to collect the commodity , it will take a while before they clear the stock.

And the Mwembeshi MP has disclosed that he will on Tuesday in the company of MUZ and NUMAW national officials travel to Chingola to meet KCM officials.

Mr Kasoko said he will first meet Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale to inform him on the developments at Nampundwe mine before proceeding to Chingola for a meeting with KCM officials.

Mr. Kasoko said he wants to find out the truth from KCM officials on the future of Nampundwe as removal of the Larox Filter means there will no longer be production at the mine.

ZANIS/MKM/ENDS

Labels: FDI, KCM, MINING, VEDANTA

posted by MrK @ 10:02 PM