ZEMA permits Chambishi Copper Smelter to resume operations

—The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has permitted Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) to resume operations following its taking successful measures to reduce high level of sulphur dioxide emissions into the atmosphere in Chambishi area.

On Monday, ZEMA issued an Environmental Restoration Order to Chambishi Copper Smelter following several complaints from farmers in the area that a variety of their crops had been damaged by acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide fumes suspected to have come from CCS limited contrary to Section 105 (1) of the EMA Act No 12 of 2011.

ZEMA Principal Information and Communication Officer, Irene Chipili, told ZANIS in a statement that CCS has been permitted to reopen under specified conditions.

Ms Chipili said ZEMA will continue to monitor the company to ensure full compliance to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Act and other relevant legislation.

She said ZEMA will remain committed to preventing and controlling pollution in order to safeguard human health and the environmental.