KCM smelter company commissions new oxygen plant

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Smelter Company has installed a newly procured oxygen pumping system as it aims to increase oxygen production for internal consumption.

The new Oxygen Pumping System is meant to adequately meet oxygen demands for both KCM and government hospitals.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility at the Oxygen Plant on Friday, KCM Smelter Company Director, Ellie Sampa, said the plant has the capacity to produce 750 tonnes of oxygen per day, which could fill up to 30 cylinders per hour unlike the old system which could only fill up 10 cylinders per hour.

He said with the installation of the system, KCM would once again be able to supply health facilities on the Copperbelt with free oxygen in order to help them save huge sums of money on purchase of oxygen for patients.

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“Health being one of KCM’s four pillars of the Company’s CSR spend features at the very top and our desire is to fit our health delivery systems into national goals of ensuring the country is fully resourced of requirements for a healthy nation,” Sampa said.

He said the mine started issuing out medical oxygen to both KCM and Government hospitals in July 2021 but stopped in June 2022 due to technical challenges.

“We are glad to be a part of the renewed focus for a healthy nation and our two hospitals, the Nchanga South in Chingola and Konkola Mines Hospital in Chililabombwe, as well as other government hospitals on the Copperbelt will have the burden of sourcing for oxygen partly eased through supplies from the Nchanga smelter,” Sampa added.

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