Maravi

Mopani displeases Earth Organisation over spillage

Mopani displeases Earth Organisation over spillage
By Fridah Zinyama
Fri 05 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT

EARTH Organisation Zambia has expressed disappointment with the remedial measures that Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has put in place following the spillage of unknown chemicals in Chitukula Mutima stream on Sabina-Mufulira road late last year.

On 20th December last year Mopani Copper Mines spilled some chemicals into the Chitukula Mutima stream on Sabina-Mufulira road.

The mine's failure to quickly respond to their spillage prompted Earth Organisation Zambia to ask them to pay an amount that would allow the environmental Non-Governmental Organisation to carry out some remedial measures for the affected community.

In a press statement, Earth Organisation Zambia executive director Lovemore Muma stated that Mopani Copper Mines only came up with the mediocre remedial measures following the organisation's demand that they Mopani pay US $298,550.

“We wrote to them asking them to pay US $298,550 in order for the organization to restore fauna and flora and continuously assess the PH level in the water and the acidity in the stream bed and the banks, as well as compensating the affected members of the community,” he stated. “We further gave them a 14-day ultimatum in which to respond failure to which we would take legal action against them.”

Muma was concerned by the mine's failure to explain to the community on the type of chemical that had been spilled in the stream and its effects on the people.

“Since we are not told the type of chemicals that went into the stream, we can only speculate that since it was coming from Mopani in Mufulira then it should be sulphuric acid,” he stated. “Now if you check up the Safety Data Sheet for sulphuric acid spill into the ecosystem and domestic water body, Mopani's remedial action is not anywhere near that.”

Muma stated that Mopani had shown a lack of regard not only for the community in which they spilled those chemicals but the entire country, as they had failed to follow proper procedure following such a spillage.

“We are very disappointed with MCM non-regard for human life,” he stated. “In the same vain we have written to Glencore International AG which holds 73 per cent share in MCM, complaining about the company's response to the spillage which had affected an entire community.”

Muma stated that Glencore International AG claims to have an environmental management system in place at each of its current operations and that its procedures and protocols form the operating framework of the company's environmental management systems which are in line with ISO 14001 requirements.

“We have written to them so that they could account for their subsidiary company's non-regard for the environment,” Muma stated.

Labels: ENVIRONMENT, MOPANI, POLLUTION

posted by MrK @ 3:42 PM