Ndola Lime ordered to shut down plant

[bingogo]

By Times Reporter

THE Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) has directed Ndola Lime Company to shut down its plant which is releasing dust emissions higher than the lawful allowable limits and has caused an outcry from members of the public.
ZEMA northern region manager Patson Zulu said in Ndola yesterday that his organisation, which is formerly known as the Environmental Council of Zambia, directed Ndola Lime to shut down its plant following the suspension of the licence for the rotary kiln which was releasing excessive dust emissions polluting the environment.
“The complaints from some Ndola residents about excessive dust emissions are justified. As ZEMA, we have no option than to act accordingly. The onus is now on Ndola Lime to see to it that measures are put in place to comply with the country’s environmental laws,” Mr Zulu said.
He said the Ndola Lime and the Lafarge Cement plants in Ndola were releasing excessive dust emission, which was a source of concern from members of the public.
The allowable limits is 50 milligrammes per normal cubic meter (50mg/Nm3).
Mr Zulu warned other companies bleaching environmental laws that they risked being shut down.
“People should be allowed to enjoy a good quality of life by having air which is not polluted. We shall no longer tolerate environmental mischief,” he said.
And Ndola Lime acting general manager Abraham Witika confirmed that his company was failing to meet the lawful allowable dust emission standards because its kiln’s dust abetment unit developed a fault last week.
“Ndola Lime Company has already done the assessment on the damaged abetment unit which is responsible for regulating the levels of dust emission and the process to order the replacement has started,” he said.
Mr Witika said it was unfortunate that the rotary kiln, which was the plant’s only operating kiln, developed a fault despite having the dust abetment unit replaced at a cost of US$3.5 million in August last year.
He said the other kiln, the vertical kiln was shut on May 29 to facilitate for 40-day-long planned annual maintenance programme.

je suis allé sur le site NDOLA et surprise dans "news" May 2011, ils en parlent des émissions polluantes, mais journal LIME NEWS avec 1 an de décalage les "News ne sont pas dans l ordre chronologique ?mais qui sont il en communication pour être aussi nul (j ai peur!)
(ou alors je n ai pas compris alors la je m excuse!!!)
http://www.ndolalime.co.zm/index.php/news

LIME NEWS

latest developments May 2010

Dry Filter Brings joy to Ndola Lime Community Dry Filter Brings joy to Ndola Lime Community
The installation and commissioning of the dry filters has enhanced the operations at the hydrator and brought joy to the Ndola
Lime community. The performance of the filter system has so far been excellent with zero pollution from the dry side. The
projects team has been highly commended for working tirelessly to resolve some of the few challenges that have been faced with
the new system, such as ensuring that the accumulated water in the compressed air line does not reach the filter bags by
constantly purging the line. This is a temporal measure as plans are underway to install a water trap system that will drain off all
the accumulated water in the compressed air line. The team has also installed a water canon in the system to eliminate the
problem of bonding of material.
The installation and commissioning of the dry filter and the ongoing Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) project at the Rotary Kiln is
indeed a clear demonstration of Ndola Lime’s commitment to ensuring that pollution levels are within the allowable limit.
By Emmanuel Chipili