Maravi

Scott to meet MCM, ZEMA over closed leaching plant

Scott to meet MCM, ZEMA over closed leaching plant
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 27 Mar. 2012, 12:57 CAT

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott is today expected to meet Mopani Copper Mines and ZEMA in Lusaka to discuss the future of the closed Mufulira West Heap Leaching Mine. And the Southern Africa Resource Watch, which will be part of the meeting, says it expects the government to take punitive measures against Mopani for abrogating the law and polluting the environment.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) closed Mopani's the Heap Leaching Mine three weeks ago following complaints by residents of Butondo about massive pollution.

Mopani Copper Mines chief executive officer Danny Callow who confirmed the development said the company hoped that the meeting with the Vice-President Scott would address the issues surrounding the closure of the mine.

Callow said due to the closure of the mine, the company was losing about K525 million a day.

He said 310 jobs might be lost if the mine were not reopened.

"Our hope as a company is that the current situation will not continue because we need to save the mine and the potential job losses which we view as serious. We hope by tomorrow (today), a resolution will be found on how to restart the mine again while making sure that all stakeholders are happy," Callow said.

He said prior to the stop notice which was issued by ZEMA, Mopani engaged the residents of Butondo in a stakeholders forum to try and address the issues surrounding the operations of the Heap Leaching Mine and the acid mists that were allegedly affecting the residents.

Callow said Mopani Copper Mines attached great importance to issues of environmental health and its operations would always be within the confines of the law.

And Southern Africa Resource Watch campaign officer Edward Lange said Mopani Copper Mines must be given a time frame in which to adhere to the set out benchmarks given to them by ZEMA.

Lange said ZEMA and Mopani had the responsibility to ensure protection of the environment and the lives of the people of Butondo before reopening the mine.

"We are going into this meeting with a view that Mopani must be put in its rightful position. We have laws that govern this country and this company is not above the law. The situation on the acid mists that were being released and affecting the people and the environment was extremely unacceptable," said Lange.

Over 3,200 Butondo residents in Mufulira have been pressing government and ZEMA to take action over the strong acid mists that were being produced by the Heap Leaching Mine and had allegedly affected people's health since 2006 when the ponds were commissioned.

ZEMA northern region manager Patson Zulu said the environmental authority had carried out independent investigations and it was discovered that the mine needed critical improvements in its operations to stop the acid mists and other mining activities that were allegedly affecting the environment and the residents' health.

Labels: ENVIRONMENT, GUY SCOTT, MCM, MOPANI, POLLUTION

posted by MrK @ 7:06 PM