Increase power supply to Luapula, chief Chisunka implores govt

Increase power supply to Luapula, chief Chisunka implores govt
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:33:59 AM

CHIEF Chisunka of Mansa has urged the government to increase power supply to Luapula Province in order to accelerate mining activities in the area.

In an interview, chief Chisunka who is also Luapula Province chiefs' council chairperson, disclosed that Tycoon Mining Investments from China had promised to invest US $208 million into the manganese mining project in Mansa and that the project needed sufficient power supply to succeed. Chief Chisunka said Luapula had numerous waterfalls that the government could use for power supply.

He said he was impressed with Tycoon Mining Investments because they appeared to be genuine investors that were not just interested in reaping profits, but also uplifting local people's living standards.

"They (Tycoon Investments) have been given a large-scale manganese prospecting license ... but before they start mining, they first want to build about 120 houses for their workers," chief Chisunka said.

"Machines are already on site to explore the quantity of minerals on site and they have told us that they will tell us if they find other minerals apart from manganese."

He said it was for this reason that the province and the district in particular needed enough power supply because the prospective investor also wanted to set up a factory for purposes of value addition instead of exporting raw mineral.

Chief Chisunka said about 5,000 jobs were expected to be created once the project comes to fruition.