Message Ven 24 Mai 2013 17:27

Maamba Collieries buys new plant

MAAMBA Collieries Limited has procured a brand new coal handling and processing plant with a capacity to process 2.4 million tonnes of coal per year.
According to company head of corporate affairs Janardhan Lavu, the expected output of 2.4 million tonnes from the new handling and processing plant is more than enough to supply the entire Zambian industries that use coal.
"The CHPP coal handling and processing plant discharges zero effluent to the environment. Our strict adherence to environmental requirements culminated into the company winning the 2012 Zambian Environmental Management Agency award," he said during a briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday.
Lavu said the company had also dismantled old power lines that were passing through active mining areas and had erected new ones to promote safety in the process of improving the quality of mining.
He also said Maamba Collieries was currently in the process of recruiting 80 engineers who would become part of the operation and monitoring team to carry out regular operation and maintenance works once the 300MW thermal power plant under construction is completed around next year.
"Currently, Maamba Collieries is funding to the tune of US$4 million, for the resettlement of 102 households and shops, which will be relocated to facilitate the construction of power lines and water lines for the thermal power plant. We are constructing superior quality and permanent houses which will have access to better amenities such as roads, electricity, water which are non-existent in the affected areas presently," Lavu said.
He said Maamba Collieries would remain closer to the people by providing various services under their corporate social responsibility programmes.
Lavu added that the company had spent over US$829 200 on key projects such as the construction of bridges, funding medical camps, construction of roads, solid waste management, education, recreation facilities and donations to various needy social sectors.