Maamba Collieries to Double Thermal Power Production

By Kalata News,

LUSAKA – Plans are underway to double Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL)’s electricity output following the agreements among Zambia’s electricity company, ZESCO, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and the Zambian Government.

Maamba Collieries which operates Zambia’s largest coal mining concession and coal-fired Thermal Power Plant, is not affected by the reduction in rainfed water generation of hygro power stations.

Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL) is the largest coal mining company and Independent Power Producer in Zambia. It is a subsidiary of Nava Bharat (Singapore) Pte. Limited which holds a majority equity stake. The balance equity is held by ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc., a Government of Republic of Zambia undertaking.

The Mine, Thermal Power Plant and Head Office are located at Maamba town in Sinazongwe district of Southern Province of Zambia, which is about 350 km from the capital Lusaka, where MCL maintains its Corporate Office.

The Company has total estimated reserves of 168 million metric tonnes comprising high grade and thermal grade coal, spread over 1,600 hectares out of a total concession area of 8,174 hectares at Maamba. Operations are in full swing in the open pit mine, which has a life span of around 70 years. MCL follows modern, eco-friendly mining practices, and in October 2020 commissioned a surface miner, the first of such machines in Africa. Presently, mining is being carried out in two pits, Izuma A and the recently opened Kanzinze Pit, where mining operations commenced in January 202.

As envisaged at the time of privatisation, MCL has set up, a 300MW, mine-mouth, coal fired power plant which was commissioned and commenced evacuating base load power to the national grid in August 2016. The 2×150 MW power plant which contributes around 10% of the nation’s installed generation capacity utilises modern technologies to minimise emissions in keeping with the regulator, Zambian Environmental Management Agency and World Bank norms.

MCL adopts eco-friendly and up to date mining equipment and processes, while the mine-mouth power plant uses modern technology to minimise environmental impact in conformance with World Bank and Zambia Environmental Management Agency standards. As one of the largest Independent Power Producers in the country, the 300MW mine-mouth power plant at Maamba, caters to the growing demand for power and contributes over 10% to the national installed generation capacity, thereby providing diversity in the sources of power supply, contributing to energy security and economic development of the nation, while ensuring sustainable community development.

MCL understanding the need for ensuring community development plays a vital role through its CSR initiatives in improving education and health standards as well as augmenting and improving infrastructure as well sporting facilities for the people of Maamba and the Sinazongwe district.

MCL adopts open pit mining method using scientific practices and modern Heavy Earth Moving Equipment, to produce high grade and thermal grade coal to suit the customer requirements. This method of mining ensures fast and precise extraction of this precious energy resource.

The Company operates a modern, Coal Handling and Processing Plant (CHPP) which facilitates production of different coal products with consistent quality.

Since privatization in 2010, MCL has achieved significant improvement in the management of coal dumps, mitigating air pollution caused by spontaneous combustion in the over burden dumps.

In recognition of these improvements towards sound environmental management practices, MCL bagged the prestigious “Environmental Award 2012”, from Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

Sustained regulatory compliance with a clean record, demonstrated commitment to continuous environmental improvement and utilization of Best available Environmental Technology (BET) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) of MCL were duly recognized by ZEMA by according the Company “Environmental Award for Overall Contribution to Sound Management Practices in Industry 2016″.

Role of Thermal Power

The Zambian economy has been growing consistently, leading to increasing demand for electricity. In particular, energy intensive industries have grown considerably, driving up base load requirements of power.

Zambia’s power sector is presently dominated by hydro-electric power, which is dependent on rainfall patterns and presently inadequate to meet the existing demand. Thermal power plants are ideally suited to fill this gap and play a vital role in meeting the base load requirements.

The growing electricity demand in the Southern African region, coupled with a generation deficit offers the opportunity to export power on the South African Power Pool leveraging on Zambia’s location and Open Access Market regime.

Power generation by MCL

The thermal grade coal, a by-product of mining at MCL, has been hitherto dumped along with overburden as waste material, causing environmental hazard due to self- combustion. This is an excellent fuel for thermal power generation which will add substantial value to the operations of the company while mitigating the environmental pollution.

In the first Phase, a mine-mouth, 300MW Coal Fired Power Plant (CFPP) was commissioned at Maamba in August 2016.

The project envisaged a Phase 2, where the capacity can be increased to 600MW, depending on the build-up of demand for power in the region.

Highlights of the Power Plant:

• 2 x 510 TPH Steam Generators with Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) technology resulting in low emission of SOx and NOx.
• Steam Generator Technology suitable for efficient combustion of low grade high ash coal.
• Adequate dust control facilities at coal handling and transfer systems.
• High efficiency Electro Static Precipitators (ESP) limiting emission of particulate matter in the flue gases to well below the level permitted as per World Bank and national regulator ZEMA norms.
• Disposal of ash for filling voids in the mined out areas and for use by cement plants and brick making units.
• Water sourced from Kariba Lake, the largest man-made water body in the world.
• Evacuation of power through a 330 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line from the Power Plant at Maamba to Muzuma substation.

MCL is committed to the management and preservation of natural environment.

To achieve this, the Company will:

• Eliminate, mitigate or remediate the environmental impact of its activities by reducing harmful emissions into air, water and land.
• Continually improve the efficiency of usage of raw materials, energy and natural resources.
• Reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
• Avoid net losses or degradation to natural habitats, biodiversity and the landscape.
• Reduce generation and toxicity of wastes.
• Undertake training and education initiatives to promote environmental awareness among all its employees, suppliers and contractors.
• Work with its stakeholders to mitigate the environmental impact of its business operations.

MCL aims at providing a safe and healthy work environment to all its employees, sub-contractors, visitors and service providers as well as its physical assets from damage, wastage and /or loss.

To achieve this, the Company will:

• Create awareness on the safety requirements in all operations.
• Ensure that all the employees receive necessary training in safety procedures.
• Provide and allocate resources to maximize safe work practices.
• Identify hazards in the workplace and address them on priority, to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury or harm to the employees or others.
• Provide visible safety leadership.
• Maintain operational integrity.
• Encourage and support employees to participate in programs which enhance their health and well-being.
• Prepare for and effectively respond to emergencies and crises.

Soon after privatisation, MCL constructed a 32 km long Maamba- Masuku road and foot bridges in Maamba town. A 28 km long road from Maamba to Kariba Lake under construction and a water reticulation system for the benefit of the local communities were also made by MCL.

Since then, MCL is continuously engaged in developing, maintaining and augmenting infrastructure. The flagship infrastructure development project fully funded and executed by the company was the reconstruction of Maamba Township roads completed in Sep 2020. Apart from that, MCL is helping the community by building foot bridges and dams on request from different segments of the community, especially in remote areas.