Nchanga smelter this morning had a slag run out and not a fire as earlier reported. This is according to KCM General Manager Eugene Chungu. A slag run out is when molten material containing cobalt abruptly flows out of the furnace. It was all contained within the bunded area. At around 6:00hrs KCM engineers noticed elevated temperatures near the tapping area prior to the event and as per risk-based emergency protocols ensured that all the people working in the area were evacuated, thus preventing any injuries.
Below is the press release on Nchanga Smelter Operations
Konkola Copper Mines Plc would like to announce that an incident occurred at the Nchanga Smelter at around 6:00hours of this morning that resulted in a run out of slag material, although no injury occurred.
The incident occurred at the Cobalt Recovery Furnace of the Nchanga Smelter. The smelter had been scheduled to undergo a planned shutdown this Friday, which has now been brought forward by 48 hours.
Smelting and Refining Unit Head, Enock Mponda remarked; “At around 6:00hrs our engineers noticed elevated temperatures near the tapping area prior to the event. As per our risk-based emergency protocols we ensured that all the people working in the area were evacuated, thus preventing any injuries. The slag runout was contained within the limited bunded area. Although there is a standby furnace which we could bring, online we have decided to bring forward the planned shutdown by 48 hours.”
The smelter normally undergoes a major shut down every two years and thus was scheduled for 2018 but was postponed to this year. The shutdown is planned for a duration of 39 days. During this time all operations at Konkola, Nchanga and Nampundwe Mines will continue to run normally.
The Company is committed to ramping up operations at Konkola Underground and Nchanga Underground mines, and stabilize operations across the Company.
Eugene Chungu
Corporate Affairs General Manager
We are glad there are no injuries.
Let’s make him lose HAGAIN, please.
How many Smelters does Zambia have?
Mopani in Mufulira, Chambishi Copper Smelter, Kansanshi and KCM.
Incompetence and lack of power under pf causing havoc to business .Anyway guys yesterday I was sat watching my white wife get on with her business around the house. I watched her for a good 30 minutes and pondered on how lucky I was to have such a beautiful blonde white wife with an amazing body. She puts to shame lots of zambian women half her age. This woman is the epitome of stunning . After that I carried her to bed and the rest is x rated.
Defunct NEDCOZ/NECZAM Dept of Group 4s.
Now painted in green, what a powerful colour.
I think we have now become expert denialists in Zambia. The fact that you have a whole section of the smelter charred we cannot say it is intact. Whether fire or molten cobalt, the fact is that it thee was unplanned burning. So what do you expect insurance to react to if all is well?
Perhaps ECZ was making the assessment. If this will be the approach to national state of affairs, including the economy, then we shall be in shreds before anyone really calls it a crisis.