Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale has urged Mining companies in the country to be proactive in monitoring unexpected natural disasters in their mine areas.
Mr. Mwale advised the mining companies to regularly monitor earth movements in order to ensure the highest standards of safety at all mines in Zambia.
The Minister was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Mazabuka today after touring Albidon Mine to assess the extent of the sink-hole which occurred at the mine last week.
The sink- hole with a diameter and depth of 50 meters occurred on June 16, 2011 near one of the mine’s shafts.
The Albidon Mine management took precautionary measures to ensure that the affected area is fenced off to avoid loss of lives.
The sinkhole affected the southern part of the mine saying mining activity on the northern part will continue once mine safety is guaranteed.
And Mathew Banda, the Mine manager, said underground operations have been halted due to the sinkhole but processing of stockpiled material continues in the mine’s plant.
Mr. Banda explained that no underground infrastructure had been damaged adding that infilling of the sinkhole is expected to commence immediately the Ministry of Mines issues a clearance.
ZANIS
What caused this sinkhole to happen, if not due to poor mine design? All mine designs must be audited before construction / implementation.
Albidon belongs to the Chinese who are Rupiah’s friends. We can not have such mediocrity with regards to Mine design continue happening. To hell with this mediocre kind of Leadership
Was this picture taken during the tour? uuuuuhhhhhh I wonder how serious matters such us this can be discussed over a cup of tea.Our Ministers should refrain from accepting meals when they are attending to serious matters such as this.Here the visit should been straight into the mining area for inspection and drive back to Lusaka.Seriously business only!! Ba SATA please take over twabuta pafula!!
These are what we call investors pa zed.It doesnt matter wether zambian die like rats,as long as ministers are paid commissions,no problems.Look at that collum coal mine,many safety issues were raised but what has been done to-date?ZERO
#3 Well said! peace
Is poor ventilation a natural disaster?
Shut up ba fikamba! There is nothing to mourn about here! Albidon is an Australian company. The Chinese bought 50% of the company long after Munali mine was constructed. Besides the mine managers identified the problem before any life was lost therefore their safety procedures must be commended. Mining is a dangerous business anywhere in the world. Stop farting and be real. You mourn too much you lazy bums!
if you watched ZNBC 19hrs news yesterday then u mustve seen Mwale dressed in casual wearing a safety hat and reflector vest doing serious business at the mine site……………the pic above is an old one………muletekanya!
# 7 you are spot on. Further more the responsibility of standards at the mine does not not rest with shareholders though they are the owners. This is the job of the Mine manager and his team. Now unless the chinese have started adopting names like that of Mathew Banda bloggers like #2 need to keep quite if they don’t have anything reasonable to contribute.