FQM TO SET UP 200MG POWER PLANT

....aimed at reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere due to the use of fuel on most of its fleet at the mine site.

FIRST Quantum Minerals Trident Limited (FQM) intends to set up a 200 mega watts solar power plant in Solwezi.

The development is aimed at reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere due to the use of fuel on most of its fleet at the mine site.

The mining firm's Environmental manager Kachiwala Sapalo, disclosed that the firm has set itself a target of reducing green house gasses by 30 percent by the year 2025.

Mr Sapalo said the project will be undertaken in collaboration with some other partners.

"And we envision not too far away to have the project to be up and running," said Mr Sapalo.

He further disclosed that the mining firm further intends to set up another power plant with capacity to produce another 200 mega watts which will be using wind in Serenje district of Central province.

"The two will add up to a total of 400 mega watts which is quite substantial," he said.

He mentioned that mining has innovated the use of electric waste dump trucks which are connected to the trolley line and begin to run on electricity rather than diesel as it is ramping up.

He said this has got huge benefits not only economically but also to the environment especially that the mining company mines low grade copper.

"We mine very low grade copper deposits with an average of about 0.51 percent. So for you to be economically viable, you need to use technology that will allow for it to be done," he said.

He further disclosed that four mobile inpit crashers have been installed in the mine pits in order to reduce on the movement of trucks from the pits to the upper crashers.

He said in the past, the mine depended on excavators and diesel propelled haul trucks which was very costly and producing a lot of carbon dioxide.

"But this time around, we have followed the ore right there in the pit by setting up crashers which are able to move in a period of time. And the benefit is that the ore will be crashed right there in the pit and then conveyed to the processing plant," he added.

He was speaking during the information sharing meeting with journalists drawn from various media houses in Solwezi.

Earlier, FQM Trident limited Public Relations Specialist Miriam Harmon said the mining company appreciates the significant role the media has continued to play in covering mining operations at the former Kalumbila Minerals limited.