By Tovin Ngombe
The Chinese Collum Coal mine has completed building the coal washing plant which is expected to start working on 15 August in Sinazongwe district this year.
Collum mine Director Zian Rui Xu for shaft two told ZANIS in an interview at the mine that the completion of the washing plant would increase production from the current 1000 tones per month to 4000 tones per month.
Mr. Xu said the washing plant would operate 24 hours service and the coal quality would be improved because it would reduce the ash content to less than 15 percent.
He said the washing plant has been made in such way that it would be environmentally friendly since the affluent from coal would be sipped under ground rather than most mining plants that discharged water into streams or rivers.
The director explained that he would invite Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) to conduct an environmental assessment.
Mr. Xu disclosed that Collum mine would open another shaft three in three months and all the preparations for opening the new shaft was completed.
He said he was only waiting for Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to complete the installation a transformer at the new shaft
XU said Shaft three was expected to employ 200 hundred Zambian workers and 15 Chinese experts.
A Check by ZANIS at shaft three site found the offices and the underground work has already been completed.
Xu noted that the company was also supplying free piped water to the surrounding village as its social responsibility.
The Chinese Collum mine has three shafts, the two are currently producing coal and the new one that would be opened.
