THE Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has urged mining companies to be innovative in dealing with power deficit challenges by generating their own electricity to continue operating at full capacity.
And Kalumbila Minerals Limited has asked for 120 megawatts of power from Zesco for it to keep 730 miners who are about to lose jobs as a result of inadequate power supply to the Solwezi-based mine.
MUZ general secretary Joseph Chewe said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday it is time mining companies stopped relying on Zesco for their operations.
He urged them to emulate Dangote which is generating its own electricity for its operations.
Mr Chewe said the power deficit the country is facing is real and that it calls for innovation from investors in the mining sector for their companies to continue operating at full capacity and contribute to economic growth.
He said it is not safe for the mines to entirely rely on Zesco, which also has the huge challenge of servicing domestic power users and local industries in other sectors of the economy.
“Mining companies need to emulate Dangote which is producing its own power for its operations. Producing their own power will lower the cost of doing business. They should use solar energy and generators rather than entirely relying on Zesco for hydro-electricity.
They can even start selling excess power to Zesco. We don’t want mining companies to retrench workers because of inadequate power supply,” Mr Chewe said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chewe said the meeting mine unions had with management at Kalumbila mine last Friday did not yield anticipated results as the mining firm is still insisting on laying off 730 miners because of inadequate power supply to the mine.
Dangote is a late entrant to Zambia and got here when PF had ruined the economy. That’s why they came with their own power plant. But developing power plants takes years. First Quantum, the owners of Kalumbila themselves, are developing a power station in Botswana but that cannot save these 730 jobs. This crunch has come too suddenly.
Once Zesco loses the mines as customers, then Zesco is headed for disaster like Zamtel and Zampost. It will be another wanu ngwee player in the power sector. Zesco is not a player in the renewable sector where they are pushing everybody for self-supply. Once residential and commercial customers are lost by Zesco they will never get them back. This is the 21st century!
You are spot on, mate. I have never known of any business that demarkets itself the way ZESCO is doing. What would happen if all customers–commercial and domestic found alternative sources of power? I think it is extremely stupid of them.
ZESCO is able to behave the way it does because it is a monopoly. If the mines get alternative power ZESCO can focus on what it is meant to be; provider of energy to the poor.
First quantum is a big mine nd it can nt fail to generate power give them a go ahead nd see the outcome i only pity zesco it lacks proper planning how do we develop as a nation like this please Zesco wake up before u its too late
FQM will soon be and had already planned on getting power from Botswana!!
Another example that MUZ is full of dunderheads who have no understanding how business works and how energy contracts are signed…just a bunch of loud mouths who think the mines came from overseas to employ us for hobby or charity.
It’s not possible to put up a power plant of 150megawatts in 1 year.Its unfortunate that workers will be laid off before sustainable alternative sources of energy are made
Take note that the Dangote power plant is much smaller than the requirements of Kalumbila
Dangote plant is 30megawatts and $50million dollars went into it.Therefore for the requirements of Kalumbila the investment would be huge