The Zambian mining minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, said that the government had cancelled all three licences held by Collum Coal mine.
He said the government would "continue operating them until a suitable investor is found".
China has invested more than $2bn in the Zambian mining industry.
According to Beijing, China has created 50,000 jobs in Zambia, with trade between the two countries reaching $3.5bn in 2011.
Mr Mukanga said the mine had a poor safety, health and environmental record.
"Collum
coal mine has failed to consistently provide employees with approved
personal protective
equipment" he told a news briefing.
He added that it did not have emergency medical treatment facilities such as ambulances or a first-aid station underground.
As
well as the safety issues, Mr Mukanga also stated that the company had
failed to pay royalties or properly declare how much coal was produced.
The mine in question has been controversial.
A
Zambian miner was charged with the murder of a Chinese supervisor at
the Collum mine last year. In 2010, Chinese managers were accused of
firing on protesting miners.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Post Comment