Friday, March 29, 2024

Mopani sulphur-dioxide emissions cause Mufulira District Commissioner to collapse

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Mopani Smelter in Mufulira
Mopani Smelter in Mufulira

MUFULIRA District Commissioner (DC) Beatrice Mithi was on Tuesday left requiring the services of an oxygen machine when she collapsed after allegedly inhaling the highly-toxic sulphur-dioxide emission by Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).

Ms Mithi who is asthmatic, fainted soon after she inhaled the toxic sulphur-dioxide emission which had just been discharged into the atmosphere from the MCM’s plant in Kankoyo.

She was taken to the hospital unconscious where she was admitted and put to on oxygen until yesterday when she was discharged.

The district commission confirmed the incidence in an interview with the Times in Kitwe yesterday shortly after being discharged.

Narrating how she suffocated, Ms Mithi said she was returning from officiating at a function at Ronald Ross Hospital within the district when MCM plant in Kankoyo discharged the sulphur-dioxide into the emission.

“I was returning from officiating at the hospital when suddenly there was fume in the atmosphere, which apparently happened to be sulphur-dioxide emission by Mopani Copper Mines.

“I got choked by the sulphur-dioxide emission and I immediately collapsed after becoming unconscious,” she said.

Ms Mithi said she was quickly rushed to the hospital where she was admitted and put on oxygen until yesterday when she was discharged.

“It appears the type of sulphur-dioxide Mopani is discharging at the moment is highly toxic because the case involving myself is the second one after another person who is asthmatic also was affected last week,” Ms Mithi said.

She said from information to her knowledge, the person who got choked last week allegedly by the sulphur-dioxide emission died unfortunately.

33 COMMENTS

  1. WOW…. ba LT. You’ve reached an all-time low with the grammatical errors and poorly written articles. *slow clap*

    • Have you wondered why high cost and low cost residential areas on the copperbelt were constructed in that manner?

      Its rare that you have these toxic fumes blowing in the high cost areas as the wind mostly blow in the direction of low cost areas which in the early day of mining were exclusively occupied by Zambians.

      Sometimes politicians need to taste a dose of what the people go through daily for them to act.

    • This what you were told. I wish she lives life of testimony and rise above board to condem those Chaps who ripping profits on the expense of poor Zambia. I hope she fully recovers or else have a permanet lung damage

    • Gen its not Rocket Science to decipher this. The white Colonialists ensured the black people’s homes were constructed on the windward side of the mine so all the toxic fumes went the black people’s way. Their homes were constructed on the other side of the mine that was safe. This was a racist policy that you might not see if you label these places High cost and Low cost. Its time some of the newly borns were reminded of the white colonial master and his tactics

  2. Mulibalwele fye mayo. Transfer her to Kaputa where there no copper smelters.

    Sulphur Dioxide emmisions are expected from any smelting operating.

    • By telling us “Sulphur Dioxide emmisions are expected from any smelting operating” you want to show off that you know better than all of us..and so we shouldn’t complain!
      Well I will tell you that Human beings are not created to consume Sulphur dioxide so you Smart Alecs and Mopani should know not to emit these gases on people.

    • All the residents should get together and file a class action lawsuit against the owners of the smelter. They should also take up this matter with international media organizations. Zambian governments have been aware of this problem for ages but they give a blind eye due to the “hash money” that they get from the big corporations. Our children are dying and no one seems to care. It is time someone took this serious issue head on.

  3. Fi senta filakola. I lived in kankoyo for 2 years and senta kunkola lyonse. If it was kubulaya, MCM could have been sued already

  4. When will this problem ever be resolved? There has been alot of studies about this problem in this town. A lot money spent in enviromental studies, a lot of consultations, a lot of complaint pew, all to no where! Surely if this emissions were in western countries the problems would have been resolved. People’s right to quality environment has really been affected for too long and no one ever comes up with solutions. This plant would have been closed if authorities cared about the local people. They suffer so much with no compensation! Even roofs on houses get eaten up and even plants are affected. Surely something must be done. Compensate people living under this situation from the copper proceeds now.

  5. It was sad thank God that our DC has survived. madam do something for our brother and sisters who stay at kankoyo t/ship were sulphur dioxide is the talk of the day.

  6. This is so shameful. These Glencore people are busy mining our minerals, externalising the profits , under declaring the profits to pay less taxes, and then polluting the environment. What cold blooded ness is this. They are doing it with impunity. Please gov do something else. You can chase these f.ools . We can always find other firms who are ready to follow Health and Safety procedures properly

  7. Does it need a politician to collapse and a few more deaths for the company and the government to take the right action?

    Vegetation in Kankoyo area speaks for itself. Unfortunately the effect on those who inhale constantly this sulphur dioxide may not be seen by the naked eye.

    Time the company and the government acted.

  8. now that she has had a test of what common people go through everyday lets see what action she will take.the fact that you are still alive mayo is probably because you had a driver and govt vehicle to rush back to ronald ross hospita.the same cannot be said for a commoner in kankoyo.

  9. An asthmatic person shudn’t b living in such areas, she’s risking her life. Mama shift frm that area, come nd live wit me in Lufwanyama.

  10. Levels of emissions can be reduced,let authorities work on it and after this dose to a GRZ administrator we expect some corrective action.My mother stays in chamboli emissions are at unacceptable level almost every day in the morning choking them in that area has been the trend for decades.

  11. I thought all these things would come to an end 90 days after a certain chap from Mpika with rotten got into state house.

  12. Senta iponena ku Kankoyo naku Butondo ku Roman Catholic Church side (section B), not ku Hospital. That lady as far as I know was at Clinic 7 when this happened and she was rushed to Malcom Watson for treatment.
    Had she been at RR Hospital, she would have been admitted right there.

  13. BANE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

    FIRSTLY IT IS TRUE ANY SULPHIDIC COPPER CONCENTRATE SMELTING WILL

    DISCHARGE SULPHUR DIOXIDE. BUT THIS CAN BE MITIGATED .

    1.NEW SMELTERS MUST BE COMPELLED TO CAPTURE 99 % OF THIER RESULTANT
    SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMMISIONS AND CONVERT IT INTO ACID. SIMPLE

    2. WE NEED TO MOVE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND STOP BUILDING SMELTERS FOR SULPHIDIC CONCENTRATES. A PROCESS CALLED FERRIC LEACH OF SULPHIDIC CONCENTRATES CAN BE EMPLOYED TO EXTRACT COPPER FROM THESE CONCENTRATES . IT INVOLVES NO SMELTING AT ALL, ALTERNATIVELY WE CAN USE NON INFECTIOUS BACTERIA (BIO- HEAP LEACH) OR AOTOCLAVE EQUIPMENT TO LEACH THESE SAME CONCENTRATES.

    WORK UP ZEMA AND CONSULT US PROCESS ENGINEERING EXPERTS.

  14. Good, now they will pay an ear to what the poor people have been crying about! Lets see if they will do something about it since their own is trapped, now get to work fellas!

  15. Ukwalinsoke. Hey hey hey, the smelting process is still the best for copper sulphide concentrates as long as it has a double contact acid plant which captures 99% of the SO2 gas and convert to H2SO4 acid. Those hydro metallurgy processes you mentioned are the least you will think about when you have a sulphide copper material on your table. Check from one end of the earth to the other it be Australia, Japan. China, Chile, Peru, Zambia, India etc there isnt a single right thinking investor who loves money that will adopt the copper leaching method over pyro for copper sulphide materials.

  16. This problem has been ongoing for YEARS now, affecting, & maiming poor Zambian’s.
    Successive Governments have paid Lip service to this ongoing “Genocide” on the poor, but done nothing when in power.
    It takes a government official to suffer @ the hands of these polluting companies, for it to come to the attention of the wider public, via our media outlets.
    Watch the on-line documentary, Good Copper Bad Copper, to enlighten yourselves how long poor Zambian’s have suffered with NO Proper action from “the peoples representatives”- Our Government.

    • You see when Anglo and our govt. where running the mines corporate social responsibility was visible, hospitals ,garbage collections children’s scholaships etc,but now it’s just business hence the emissions,govt should enhance mine safety dept.

    • Sensible suggestion @ 17.2 Chinyama.
      We cannot go on ignoring the voiceless poor, just because we live in our “air conditioned Ivory towers” Human’s- (Women & Children, & the powerless), are dying from this pollution on a daily basis. This is as Toxic as suffering from A.I.D.S.
      Just today it was announced that polluted air leads to Cancer, so the U.N. is declaring the Right of Humans to live in pollution free environments.
      Pity the poor who vote for the Guy’s in power, are Not aware of these rights. SAD!!

  17. Those criminal looters will not do anything…
    2 months ago, the foo.lish Mines minister Yaluma said the govt is happy with Mopani’s investments and operations…

    filled pockets for Big shots, polluted air for poor people
    unfortunatly that s zambian life…

    • These Guys once out of office, should be prosecuted for such statements, as innocent Zambians are dying on an ongoing basis from this pollution. This alleged statement is “Hard Evidence” of malpractice, + abuse of position/ office.
      Money grabbing Cockroaches!!

  18. I see this DC fainting again for as long as Mopani does not adopped KCM Nchanga Smelter technology where 95% of Sulphur Dioxide produced is trapped and converted to Acid. All Mopani needs to do is construct an Acid plant adjacent to the Smelter and channel the SO2 produced in Smelting operations to it. This is in fact going to make more money for the company through the sale of acid

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