Kansanshi Mining Plc has completed the draft report of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed construction of Sulphide tailing dams and handed over to Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) for approval.
Once the report is approved the construction of the tailing dams to be situated in Kabwela and Mbonge areas of Solwezi district will commence.
Speaking during the Environmental Council of Zambia organized consultative meeting in Kabwela settlement today, Kansanshi Mining Plc environmental manager Richard Zyambo said the mine has completed the draft report and only awaiting the approval of the ECZ.
Mr Zyambo said the project will take up 600 hectares of cultivated land adding that 289 peasant farmers will be displaced and relocated to another area to be identified and that the Solwezi Kipushi road will have to be diverted around the tailing dam’s embankment.
He added that Chief Kapijimpanga has already given the mine permission to carry out the expansion project once ECZ has approved.
Kabwela residents have welcomed the proposed construction of the tailing dams but are appealing to the mine to compensate them as quickly as possible to enable them look for alternative land and continue with their farming activities.
The residents said although they have been doing their farming on the said land for quite some time, they were ready to give it out so that the mine can expand its operations.
Speaking at the same meeting Kamalamba ward councilor Emmanuel Chihili appealed to the mining company to approach the project holistically so that none of the affected people is disadvantaged when it comes to compensation.
Mr Chihili said the mine should also consider empowering the displaced people with farming inputs and seed to enable them settle in the new area where they will be relocated to.
Kansanshi mining plc is proposing to construct two new tailing dams outside the mining area which will help in storing 9 million tones of copper and 200 million tones of tailings per annum and will be operational for a period of 20 years.
ZANIS
When you see a white man smile at you even kneeling like the guy in the picture, know that there is a lot of money. These guys would never kneel before a niger.
IM BLACK.
#1 straight to the point. Our chief have not changed from the times of slave trade, exchange minerals for a bottle of whiskey.Â
Ma ma ma Nga Umusungu afukama nishi pali indalama! I tell you this is a loss to Zambia though a gain because of creation of employment.
Could you please make the EIA report public so that it can be scrutinised by professionals in the field. There must be more than just copper in this area as can be seen from the picture. I hope the dear chief has been duly advised.