Portland Cement Limited has confirmed that a fatal accident occurred on Tuesday at its project site in Balaka, claiming the life of their contractor New Unite Limited’s employee.
In a statement, the company said the accident involved Zeng Yuxin, a 42-year-old Chinese national, who was pulled into the raw material mill by negative pressure at its access point.
New Unite Limited is the contractor engaged to carry out civil and equipment installation works at the Balaka project.
Portland Cement head of marketing and corporate affairs Violet Vilili described the incident as tragic, saying the company is deeply saddened by the loss.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our deepest sympathies go to the family and friends of the deceased. We will provide the necessary support to New Unite Limited to comfort the bereaved family,” said Vilili.
She added that the company has since supported the contractor to report the matter to relevant authorities and is fully cooperating with investigations.
“We remain committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety during project construction and operation. This includes a review of internal safety protocols and immediate implementation of any necessary improvements,” Vilili said.
She stressed that the safety and well-being of everyone at Portland Cement premises remains the company’s top priority.
