Baluba mine reopening thrills job seekers

By BENNIE MUNDANDO EXCITEMENT and anxiety has gripped people in Luanshya as the Baluba mine commences recruitment of workers ahead of its reopening after a three-year pause when it was put under care and maintenance in 2015.

In September 2015, China Non Ferrous Metal Company Luanshya Copper Mines (CNMC) shut down Baluba underground operation and placed the facility under care and maintenance following the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC’s) decision to reduce power supply to the mine by 30 percent.

The closure forced over 1, 000 workers out of employment as they were sent on forced, unpaid leave as management’s last resort owing to the power deficit that characterised the premises.

However, Government intervened on the power impasse between CEC and CLM and this week, the company said it will pump in US$13 million into the reopening of Baluba mine and advertised for various jobs at the mine ahead of its reopening.

And speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, former Mpatamatu ward councillor Gershom Mpundu said there was jubilation in Luanshya after the advertisement of job opportunities at the mine as residents had been looking forward to the reopening of the mine.

Mr. Mpundu said people in Luanshya will have a new lease of life as the closure had left most of them jobless without a source of livelihood.

He appealed to the mine to consider its former employees as priority as it recruits workers to various sections of the mine.