The Zambia Environmental Management Agency – ZEMA has disclosed that the approval of the Environmental Project Brief – EPB for actual mining activities to begin at Kasenseli Gold mine in Mwinilunga by ZCCM gold company is still underway as it is being reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the law.
ZEMA told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that two weeks ago, they approved EPB for explorations works however the one currently pending is for actual mining activities which will be approved within 40 working days as stipulated by the law. The 40 working days are counted from the date of submission.
ZEMA Corporate Affairs Manager Irene Lungu has told ZBT that a follow-up submission by ZCCM Gold was initiated ‘not too long ago’ and the Agency has not in any way delayed the process as it is still working within the statutory period for the review of the EPB.
“The EPB that ZCCM Gold is referring to is the approval for mining activities which is still underway and will be issued in accordance with the law. we already approved the EPB for exploration works which I believe works by the gold company have already started. However, we have not in anyway delayed in approving the environmental license as we are still within the stipulated statutory period,” She added.
This confirmation from ZEMA comes after ZCCM Gold company indicated in a statement availed to ZBT on April 27, 2020 that the mining and processing of the alluvial (surface) gold is pending approval of the Environmental Project Brief (EPB) by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), and the granting of the mining license by the Ministry of Mines.
ZCCM Gold Ltd is undertaking and overseeing all gold related investments throughout the gold value chain in the country including exploration, mining, processing, refining, marketing, trading and beneficiation in Zambia. ZCCM Gold company is owned 51% by ZCCM-IH and 49% by the Ministry of Finance.
The ZCCM Gold company, ZEMA and the Ministry of Mines have been accused of lethargy, lacking in innovation and failure prioritize key game changing national economic activities such as gold mining which have a promise of delivering the much needed diversification of Zambia’s forex earnings away from traditional Copper exports as well as set up of central bank – BOZ gold reserves as an alternative and supplement to traditional US dollar reserves.
Concerns on wether Zambia will reap the full benefits from the gold deposits have been sounded with President Lungu directly dropping North Western Province Police Commissioner over the failure to secure the gold mining site from illegal mining.
