Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has authorized Mopani Copper Mines to resume operations of the In-Situ Leach project at its Mufulira mine site with immediate effect, board chairman Liayo Imasiku has disclosed.
Mr. Liayo told ZANIS in an interview in Mufulira after an inspection tour of the project at the Mine today that ECZ has lifted the suspension order though formation surrounding the suspension are being considered before officially writing to the mine.
Mr. Liayo said ECZ is happy with the measures put in place so far by the mines in ensuring that it meets its commitments in the environmental impact assessment.
He said the mine has now installed stand by pumps at 520 meter level where only one pump was operating instead of two.
Mopani has also put up a shed point at 430 meter level and installed PH meters at 520 meter level as other measures to enable Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company monitor the quality of underground water before distributing to the residents.
ECZ last week ordered Mopani in Mufulira to suspend operations of the In Situ Leach project following the contamination of underground domestic water that is supplied to former mine townships in the district.
On January 3, the mine experienced a pump failure at its 430 meter level that resulted in the Pregnant Liquor Solution (PLS) to spill in the underground domestic water that Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company supplies to former Mine townships.
Acting Mine Chief Executive officer Emannuel Mutati said the company is happy that the ECZ has allowed the operations of the project to go on.
Mr. Mutati added that the suspension by ECZ did not have any effect of the mine operations as it has no direct link with production
That appears to have been rectified quickly! Are we smelling a rat or Mopani has complied, and that within a week? Well, ECZ, whatever transpired please be aware that you are the custodians of our health. Please keep up to that trust.
LEX and KING DAVID this for your attention.
NDAMYEBA ATI BA ECZ BALALYAMO MUMIGODI. ALA TUKAMILANGULA BAMAKAKA
#2 CITIZEN,
NOTED “Mopani has installed PH meters at 520 meter level as other measures to enable Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company monitor the quality of underground water before distributing to the residents. ECZ last week ordered Mopani to suspend operations of the In Situ Leach project following the contamination of underground domestic water that is supplied to former mine townships in the district.”