Zambia’s Copper Output Expected to Increase Next Year

Zambia’s copper output expected to increase next year

LUSAKA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) — Zambia’s copper production will increase to 600,000 tons in 2006 from 550,000 tons in 2005 as a result of increased global demand and foreign investments in the sector, a senior official has predicted.

Kalombo Mwansa, minister of mines and mineral development, was quoted by Business Post as saying on Tuesday that the Zambia is putting in place the necessary infrastructure to support increased mining activity while legislation to ensure a reliable and steady supply of energy, essential to the copper industry, has also been approved.

The government will guarantee energy and fuel supplies by the acquisition of strategic oil reserves and increased imports of finished petroleum products, he said.

Talks are continuing with Industrija Nafte dd of Croatia over the development of a further oil refinery in Copperbelt in the northern part of the country.

Zambia has also waived a five percent import duty to promote copper production and foreign investment has been attracted to the biggest copper producing country in Africa.

Frederick Bantubonse, general manager of Chamber of Mines, said the copper miners will spend up to eight billion US dollars to boost total annual production to 800,000 tons by 2008. Over one billion dollars has already been pumped into the sector since 2000.

Konkola Copper Mines, or KCM, the country’s biggest copper producer, has an ambitious and fast-track expansion program aimed at boosting its output by 20 percent in 2006.

Mopani Copper Mines, Zambia’s second largest copper producer, has also intensified its investment drive in a bid to triple its output by 2007 and its output is expected to increase to 203,000 tons in 2006.

Kansanshi Mine, a 290-million-dollars investment by Canada, is in the process of setting up a multi-million-dollar pressure leach project. This is expected to enable the company to produce up to 145,000 tons of copper next year.

Major investment projects are also underway at Chambishi Metals, Luanshya Copper Mines, Chibuluma Mines and Chambishi Mines.