LCM cuts down on open-pit emissions

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes@SunZambianTHE Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) is working to bring the emissions from the open-pit that have been affecting residents in Mpatamatu area to zero.Residents in the area complained that the mine’s activities at the new open-pit mine was damaging houses and subjecting them to illnesses because of fumes.Explosive blasting produce fumes, emissions and dust which were polluting the environment in Mpatamato and surrounding areas.But LCM spokesperson, Sydney Chileya, said that the water bowser that was supposed to supplement the already existing two to suppress the dust had arrived.Mr Chileya was speaking to the Daily Nation in an interview.“I can confirm that the water bowser that we promised the residents last week arrived on Saturday and is scheduled for servicing the area.“But since the bowser did not arrive on Friday as anticipated, we managed to get one from Ndola as a short term measure,” he said.Mr Chileya said that the area had since seen a substantial reduction in the amount of dust because the water was being splashed to arrest emissions.He said that the environmental team was already on the ground to ensure that the people lived in a conducive environment.Mr Chileya said that the mining firm would continue monitoring the situation so as to ensure that people did not complain about the challenge anymore.He noted that indiscriminate cutting down of trees in the area worsened the challenge because there was no buffer in the area.“People cut a lot of trees in the area due to economic challenges which is not supposed to be the case in the mining area, but this is not an excuse for us. Our goal is to bring the emissions to zero,” he added. The Sun