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Former Luanshya Mayor, Nathan Chanda, says the dewatering of Shaft 28 will not only improve the economy of Luanshya town but will boost energy and agriculture sectors.
President Hakainde Hichilema commissioned the dewatering of the Shaft which had not been operating for years following the pulling out of the Chinese investor.
Chanda said the water from shaft 28 would be pumped into the Samuel canal and eventually end up in the Makoma dam, which was good for irrigation farming.
In a statement issued in Luanshya on Saturday, Chanda also noted that the water would eventually end up in Luanshya river, all the way to the Kafue river and it would be used for hydro generations of power by ZESCO.
He stated that it was important to understand that the water that would end up in the Kafue river was critical in mitigating the effects of the drought, the country had experienced.
“Once the new Luanshya mine starts to operate more jobs and business opportunities will be created for the people and improvement of our social and economical status in Luanshya,” Chanda said.
He added that more was expected in terms of increased revenue for the local authority and Social Cooperate Responsibilities.
The former Luanshya Mayor said it could also help reduce poverty and crime rates in the area .
Read More: ‘Copperbelt back in business,’ Hichilema says as Shaft 28 mine commissioned in Luanshya
“Let me take this opportunity in joining everyone in thanking President Hakainde Hichilema and his predecessor Edgar Lungu and China Non-ferrous Metals Company for finally starting this project of dewatering,” Chanda stated.
He noted that the move would in return give rebirth to Luanshya when the rehabilitation of the Shafts is completed.
“As you may be aware, several studies and attempts have been done since the coming of CNMC into Luanshya over Shaft 28, 18 and 14. Until now a total cost of US$500 million has been set aside to start shaft 28 under ground Mine by Luanshya Copper Mines,” Chanda said
He stated that the dewatering of shaft 28 would be undertaken simultaneously with the construction of a new state of the art concentrator and once operational, about 40, 000 tones of copper per annum would be produced.
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