The nationwide power outage this morning affected the operations at Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM)’s Nchanga Smelter and Konkola mine operations resulting in the emission of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere in Chingola.
This is according to information contained in a statement released to the media by KCM. According to the statement , the affected communities in Chingola were informed to stay indoors and minimise outdoor activities until the situation returned to normal.
“After changing to emergency power supply, the situation returned to normal. Production was affected and the impact will be known after a thorough assessment has been carried out”, concluded the statement.
Konkola Copper Mines Plc is Zambia’s largest integrated copper producer, majority owned by London listed FTSE 100 Vedanta Resources Plc, a diversified resources group with interests in energy, copper, aluminium, zinc, silver and lead.
Sulphur oxide whose chemical symbol is ch20h3 is not a dangerous compound, so this is really surprising for me
Thanks
You such a lame person have ever heard my whole entire life.sulphur dioxide been an unharmful compund?you so lame and disgusting.Which formular is that?
Yes sure. You should be surprised. I am too. Coz I just cant find any Connection between Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and the polymer you just spouted there. Either way both are very dangerous to the environment. What I dont understand is the asking of People to be indoors, like the stuff isnt airborne. It will still affect them indoors or not.
Its VSTC ‘s fault. He promised to fix the power outages in 90 days. I don’t understand which calender this retard follows for real?
SATA THE VSTC. Amafi yabasungu yalimupenya.Ta tontonkanya bwino iyo!
@Mushota
Concentrate mu fikwakwa mune. Science yakulekela abene abaishiba bwino.
ch20h3 kwati isangwa muma psychotropic drugs munwa imwe ka.
Where did you learn your chemistry, chibelo sch or …? Its the flipping rain season, sulphur dioxide + water gives you sulphurous acid H2SO3 that burns stuff. Don’t be so thicvk, its shameful
mushota accept that yu’r dull; why potraying yo-self to be intelligent and a phd holder! dull PhD dreamer. SO2 and not ch2OH3 muzungu to be…I however follow yo madness online and urge yu to use yo education wisely bwana.
I suspect this is quite an opportunity to lie. Let me find out what the relationship between release of sulphur dioxide and power outage is. We might just find incompetence oiling the release…
@Kalok
That could be true if the extractor pumps they use rely on electricity,and I think they do. Sorry I can’t go into details about how to control industrial effluents using the ventilation systems. If you are a Mech Engineer then this info is enough for you.
Wanzelu, I hear you; however, I am not even going into the complexities of extractor pumps and mechanical engineering. I am looking at risk planning and management between the changeover of systems (that is, electricity from the grid and emergency power). It is not a complicated observation to make. Usually I observe that once a measure is in place nobody bothers to make it better until disaster strikes; and usually it is also the absence of simulated drills. By the way, how many institutions in Zambia even carry out fire drills (one of the simplest to do)?? It is mostly embassies and international outfits as far as I know – this speaks to the levels of mitigation in the event that we are faced with things like this.
Zambians Experts in Everything but Masters of None.
Does it happen every time there’s power outage? Looks like power outage is an excuse to me.
the situation was not as bad as reported, but production was affected. the effects of claiming other peoples projects zesco fails to commision newly constructed power generation plant .
don’t express ignorance in the media sulphur is used to manufacture acid and in the absence of power motors and other equipment to transport this sulphur are not there hence the pollution. it does not happen every time, we had problems with our ups system on selected parts of the plant like acid plant compressor and the electrostatic presipitator.
KALE BATAMPA UKUFUMYA SENTA.
sulphur dioxide when it mixes with water results in sulphurous acid.Which can cause skin rash….due to its bleaching effects.So its dangerous when released in high levels.
Sadly breathing in sulphur dioxide was the norm in my little mining town. 4pm on the dot daily preceded by the siren. Wouldn’t wish that white cloud on anyone and it might explain how I fried the one little brain cell I was born with…
But how does keeping indoors help? Lots of people need to be sued here. From the mining company thru to the power companies to govt
Yeah this calls for a class action!
Current scientific evidence links short-term exposures to SO2, ranging from 5 minutes to 24 hours, with an array of adverse respiratory effects including bronchoconstriction and increased asthma symptoms. These effects are particularly important for asthmatics at elevated ventilation rates (e.g., while exercising or playing.)
Studies also show a connection between short-term exposure and increased visits to emergency departments and hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, particularly in at-risk populations including children, the elderly, and asthmatics.
EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard for SO2 is designed to protect against exposure to the entire group of sulfur oxides (SOx). SO2 is the component of greatest concern and is used as the indicator for the larger…
Chingola residents should sue KCM. SO2 can be very detrimental to everybody’s health especially the kids- asthma, mental retardation, other pulmonary complications etc . They should not fool the citizens that it is due to power outage.
Yes, sulfur trioxide is a gas. It dissolves readily in water to yield sulfuric acid. SO2 which comes from burning coal is oxidized in the atmosphere to SO3. It combines with water in the atmosphere to produce acid rain which destroys vegetation- chibwabwa, impwa, collard green, kalebula, ibondwe, cabbage etc. Learn some chemistry there.
So power went and the mines farted a stinky one. Ooooops