Fire guts KCM plant
By Times Reporter
FIRE yesterday swept through a section of the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)’s Chingola tailings leach plant, temporarily paralysing part of the low-grade copper purification process.
The fire which started around 13:00 hours, affected two organic tanks, causing extensive damage before it was finally put out around 15:00 hours.
A Times team that rushed to Chingola, found fire engines and teams from Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), Mufulira Council, Kitwe City Council (KCC) and BP, putting out the last of the flames.
KCM corporate relations vice-president, Augustine Seyuba, said the cause of the fire had not been established and that the company would carry out a complete assessment of the damage.
Mr Seyuba said the fire had caused extensive damage to the section of the plant, which he said was used to process liquid low-grade copper into high grade.
He said one fire officer collapsed as the teams worked to put the flames under control and was rushed to the hospital where he was resuscitated but that there were no casualties as a result of the fire.
“We have no idea, at this point, how the fire started but as you can see it has caused some considerable damage to this section, which is part of the overall process of copper purification,” he said.
The extent and cost of the damage caused by the fire would only be known after an assessment was carried out.
He thanked fire fighters from other companies that had come to help in putting out the fire at short notice.
Copperbelt Minister, George Mpombo, also rushed to the plant to assess the damage.
KCM vice-president for safety, health, environment and mineral resources, Sixtus Mulenga, told Mr Mpombo that the whole Nchanga plant could have been lost if the fire had continued.
Dr Mulenga said his team would look at a way to ensure production continued without much effect.
Mr Mpombo commended management for its quick action and that the Government was concerned when it learnt of the fire.
“I spoke to the Vice-President, Lupando Mwape before I came here and he expressed worry and hoped that this would be sorted out quickly,” he said.
He said KCM played a big role in the economy of the nation and therefore it was everyone’s concern when anything affected the company.
Mr Mpombo urged management to keep Government abreast with investigations into what caused the fire. |
