On October 3, 2025, Petroleum and Earth Sciences students from MUST’s Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences (NSCES) went on a learning visit to Chawezi Quarry Mine in Ngabu, Chikwawa, in an effort to connect theoretical ideas with real-world applications.

Following a tour of the mine, Site Manager Ivan Nkhata, urged the students to put their safety first because mining sites are vulnerable to natural calamities like rock falls, explosions, and toxic dust, which calls for strict safety procedures. 

As they were being given a tour of the mining site, students learnt about quarry stone making process, which includes drilling, blasting, crushing, and aggregating it into different sizes based on customer preferences and intended application.

“Each of the stages involved in the process require the usage of different types of machinery. For example, aggregation equipment is different and even the specifications of each machine used at each stage are also different,” said Nkhata.

Speaking after the tour, Wilson Tchongwe, lecturer in Earth Sciences, commended the mining firm for allowing the visit, saying it gave the students practical information that would be utilized to support ideas taught in the class.

Hilton Banda, CEO for Akatswiri Mining Resources, said his company organized the field trip to enable the students combine classroom learning with an unforgettable hands-on experience. He also encouraged the students to internalize the knowledge they learnt for their personal benefit.

President of Petroleum Students Society of MUST, Ishainesu Mponda, speaking on behalf of fellow students, thanked Akatswiri Mining Resources and Earth Sciences department for giving them a unique opportunity.

“Our knowledge of sedimentary geological formations, operational discipline, and resource extraction processes has increased as a result of the trip. Otherwise, these topics directly apply in the analysis of petroleum reservoirs,” Mponda said.

Earlier in the week, Akatswiri Mining Resources held an interactive session with students at MUST where it also made a career presentation. Both activities were organized in partnership with MUST Petroleum Students Society and MUST Earth Sciences Students Society.