The Mines Safety department has lifted the suspension slapped on the Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCCM) in Sinazongwe district in Southern province in January this year.
Chief Inspector for mines Billy Chewe said in his letter to the CCCM management that Shaft two and shaft three has been opened following compliance to the 34 safety rules they were given to fulfill.
The Chinese Marketing Manager Lu Haiguan told ZANIS that all the workers have reported for work. Mr. Haiguan said the two shafts have started producing 100 metric tones of Coal per day.
He said the shutting of the mine affected the supply of coal to Konkola Copper Mine (KCM), Chilanga Cement (Lafarge), Amanita Zambia and many breweries.
Mr. Haiguan noted that the opening of the mine would improve its coal supply to the customers that were affected as a result of the closure.
Last week Mr. Chewe said Shafts One and Four would remain closed because the owners failed to comply with the safety regulations.
On 4th January Mr. Chewe handed a letter to the CCCM management instructing them that operations at the mines have been suspended with immediate effect.
He said it was clear that the mine was no longer safe following the two fatal accidents which included a Chinese national recorded in less than one month. He said the mine would only be reopened when the 34 safety conditions given to the management was met.
Some of the conditions included the employing of trained personnel such as the shift boss, to provide proof of appointment of a qualified mine manager for the shafts, and to provide proper support methods used in the tunnels.
ENDS/TN/PK/ZANIS
I hope there were no brown envelopes involved in the reopening of this trap mine.The sad thing is that even if something has been done genuinely suspicions of corruptions are always high in Z,thanks to ka Kafupi and company.
Ikali iyo bakamba
At least this has been done after making sure that the mine has improved on its safety procedures and that of workers
Nice move.
I hope one of the 34 rules is not some cash under the table. those chaps treat their Zambian workers like trash.
I doubt the compliance to safety as this mine was closed once before the last time. ACC swing into action to to establish there was no brown envelopes exchanged.
By the way the Chinese operate the most unsafe coal mines in the world. Only last week there was a disaster that claimed a number of lives.
I support No.7. what the Mine Safety Dept., should do is intensify their inspectorate wing. currently they are immobile, officers react only when given info. They must be pro active and forstall the situation from reaching dangerous levels. My mind spins how this mine was left to degenerate to such low levels. Rememeber Alina nshingo once visited this mine and cried at appalling conditions she found years ago. So nothing seem to have changed.
Chinaman knows no safety, his aim is gain/profit at all costs. Please choose credible investors.
bwafya pa zambia
IMWE there is no lifting of ban!! Which ban? The ban was never there!! The mine was operating in the night and it has been widely reported even in some of our newspapers. Who doesn’t know that? The govt has had to just make this announcement to save themselves from embarrassment because the Chinese refused to obey Rupiah Banda. What’s happening to 2011? Why is it taking long to come?? We are getting sick and tired of this reversal of progress that Mwanawasa built and for which we tightened our belts for so many decades!! 2011 kuya bebele – Zwa!!
I support # 11
It sticks to see the embrassment that Zambia is currently going through after a solid foundation layed down in the Mwanawasa regime( may he soul rest in peace)
We need level headed leaders who can offer the checks and balances of the country and not those flying out all the times at the expense of tax payers money. No wonder they cant reduce tax in Zambia. Seriously i havent noticed anything good implemented in Zambia ever since RB came in power apart from talking and talking.
….this will be another General Kanene saga….da govt wl b embarrassed wen disaster strike only after few weeks of reopening…..
…Chinese hv no consideration or value for a Zambian life