ZCCM IH Pleased with Maamba Collieries Output

The Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine Investment Holding (ZCCM-IH) is happy with the current production of coal at Maamba Collieries (MCL) mine in Southern province.

ZCCM-IH acting Chief Executive Officer, William Musama, disclosed this when a board of directors for ZCCM-IH visited MCL to familiarise itself with the operations of the mine today.

Mr. Musama said 20,000 tones of coal have been produced and 9,000 tonnes was ready for sale.

He said the board was impressed with MCL management and Oriental Quarries, the company which is contracted to mine coal on behalf for MCL for a period of one year.

He said the two companies have employed new mining techniques that were safe from accidents.

Mr. Musama said within the stipulated time, the contractor has managed to remove the overburden to start extracting coal for sale and has since managed to work on the roads within the mine area and on a bridge at Izuma B pit.

“Production of coal is going on well, we are now able to produce coal for sale after a long period of non-production,” he said.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer further disclosed that MCL has a target of producing 40,000 tones of coal per month although this would be determined by the demand of the commodity on the market.

He said the MCL was now targeting potential buyers of coal, noting that the production of high quality coal was on course.

Mr. Musama said MCL was determined to continue operating the mine despite economic threats caused by the global economic crunch.

He has since appealed to government to work on the Maamba-Batoka road bridges to facilitate for the smooth movement of tracks once MCL starts selling coal.

He said the current temporal bridges at Sikalamba in Sinazeze and in Mbole could only allow a 25 tonnes load to pass through.

On the MCL Rope Way, Mr Musama noted that rehabilitation works have started to reduce on the tracks that would be using the main road.

Mr Musama also explained that negotiations with preferred equity partner Nava Bharat, which is contemplating buying off part of MCL, will start soon, adding that government would have the final say to approve the contract.

Mamba Collieries mine has coal reserves that could last for 80 years.