Administrateur du site
Messages: 4394
Inscription: Jeu 30 Juil 2009 16:48
Localisation: la seyne sur mer
Kansanshi to pump $25m in storage facility
Friday, May 13, 2011
By NKOLE CHITALA
KANSANSHI Mining Plc has proposed to construct a tailings storage facility (TSF) at its Kansanshi Copper Mine near Solwezi town at an estimated cost of US$25 million.
The proposed facility is required for additional tailings that will be produced as a result of increased productions at the mine.
According to the firm’s environmental impact statement (EIS) submitted to the Environmental Council of Zambia for reviewin Lusaka recently, says the TSF project estimated between US$20 million and US$25 million is expected to create 200 jobs during construction period.
The EIA says the existing sulphide TSF is near and based on the amount and future production levels, a second sulphide TSF is required.
The proposed facility is required for storage of additional mineral processing waste known as tailings that will be produced at the mine. It will be located east of the mine with a capacity of about 200 metric tonnes of tailings covering an area of approximately 600 and be operational for about 20 years.
The company proposes that a tailings delivery pipelines be installed to transport tailings from the processing plant to the TS.
The proposed TSF will be constructed in a shallow valley located on the eastern side of the current mine development.
On resettlement, the company says over 50 households in Mbonge and Kabwela settlements will be affected.
The EIA says the project will also result in the re-routing of the road from Solwezi to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kansanshi mining operations began in 2004 and since then several mine expansions have taken place. In 2009 Kansanshi milled 5.6 million tonnes of oxide ore and 15.6 million tonnes of oxide ore and 15.6 million tonnes to produce 244,979 tonnes of finished copper.
Other infrastructure power support for the TSF will be provided from the mine through a 33 kilowatt power line to be routed along TSF delivery pipelines.