Maron Chongo, from Mopani Copper Mines, Named First African Judge for International Mining Rescue Competition
Maron Chongo, the Mine Rescue Technical Advisor at Mopani Copper Mines PLC, has been appointed as a Judge for the 2024 International Mining Rescue Competition (IMRC) to be held in Colombia from September 12th to 20th, 2024.
This prestigious appointment makes him the first judge from the African continent to adjudicate at this global event, which evaluates the proficiency of the world’s top mine rescue teams in underground emergency response and other critical aspects of mine rescue operations.
Mr. Chongo’s appointment was confirmed in a letter from the IMRC Colombia 2024 Organising Committee, signed by Maria Carolina Galindo Nino, the Mine Safety and Rescue Manager of Colombia’s National Mining Agency.
The decision to appoint Mr. Chongo was based on his exceptional skills and experience in mining rescue, as well as his contributions to the mining sector.
As a judge, Mr. Chongo will be involved in evaluating the ‘Test of Skills and Physical Capacity in Mining Rescue’ and the ‘Theoretical Test (Task Force and Equipment Technician Test)’ categories at the competition.
His role is crucial in ensuring fairness and excellence in assessing the knowledge and skills of participating rescuers.
Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Mr. Chongo emphasized the significance of his role in representing Africa on the global stage and highlighted the importance of raising standards in mine rescue operations.
He commended the support from organizations and companies sponsoring mine rescue teams, particularly acknowledging the Zambia Chamber of Mines and mining companies in Zambia for their contributions to advancing mine rescue practices.
Zambia will be represented at the 2024 IMRC by the mine rescue teams from Konkola Copper Mines PLC and NFCA Africa Mining PLC, winners of the Zambia Chamber of Mines’ Mines Rescue Competition in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Mr. Chongo’s appointment reflects the commitment of African mine rescue teams to achieving international standards and enhancing safety measures within the mining industry.
