The largest copper mine company in Zambia lost 4,120 tons of copper production due to a pollution-led closure earlier this month, The Post reported on Friday.

The local newspaper quoted spokesperson of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Sam Equamo as saying on Thursday that during the closure from Nov. 6 to 16, KCM lost 352 tons of copper production a day, which translated into 3,520 tons.

"And between Nov. 17 to 20 we lost 200 tons per day which is 600 (tons) in total," he said.

Equamo said KCM is putting in place all necessary measures to ensure that similar spillage will not occur in the future.

"We are being closely monitored by the ECZ (Environmental Council of Zambia) and the mine safety department and we are also putting in our own measure to make sure this doesn't happen again, " he said.

ECZ, Nkana Water and Sewerage Company, local farmers and individuals have indicated they will sue KCM for damages caused by the pollution.

Earlier this month a KCM tailings pipeline in Copperbelt Province burst and polluted the Kafue River that led to disturbing of the normal supply of water to residents in the province.

Several people fell sick after eating dead fish that were poisoned by the polluted water.

KCM, jointly owned by the Zambian government and Indian mining firm Vedanta Resources, which has a majority stake and is managing the mines, suspended production of copper at its Nchanga plant following the closure of its tailings leach plant.

Source: Xinhua