Coal mining firm fined US$5 000 for EIA breach

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

A Matabeleland North mining company, BEETEE Mining Syndicate was on May 14 fined US$5 000 by the Environmental Management Agency for operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate among other breaches of environmental laws.

The mining company that extracts coal at Kalungwizi Coal Mine, was ordered to stop all mining activities and focus on getting the EIA certificate, after being found engaging in coal mining without the certificate, leading to it being fined US$5 000.

According to reports, the company was slapped with an additional US$500 ticket by the environmental body for storing fuel in plastic containers.

The mine is one out of many others targeted by EMA as it cracks down on unsafe operating conditions, following the recent collapse of a Penhalonga mine, that trapped many artisanal miners under.