Maravi

KCM projects start of new smelter, concentrator operations

KCM projects start of new smelter, concentrator operations
By Joan Chirwa in Ndola
Sunday July 06, 2008 [04:00]

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has projected that operations at the new Nchanga smelter and Konkola concentrator are likely to begin in the next two months. The Nchanga smelter, which will treat ore from Konkola and Nchanga Mines, will have a production capacity of 300,000 tonnes while the new concentrator at Konkola will handle the additional ore that will be produced by the Konkola Mines.
The concentrator will process six million tonnes of copper ore.

Speaking in an interview at this years' Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola being held under the theme ‘Infrastructure - Key to Development,’ KCM spokesperson Samuel Equamo said the new projects would be completed soon as the company repositions itself for increased copper production once the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) is completed.

"The smelter in Chingola is likely to begin operations in the next two months. This will be one of the largest smelters and will treat ore from Konkola. It will also handle ore from other mines," Equamo said. "We are also working on the concentrator in Chililabombwe and this is likely to start operations in two months’ time.

This is all in preparation for increased production of copper once the KDMP is completed in 2010. KCM is assured of production up to 2035 because the KDMP has extended the mine’s life and will also increase production capacity to 7.5 million tonnes of ore from the current two million."

Equamo said KCM's production capacity would increase to 500,000 tonnes per year once the projects were completed compared to the current output of 200,000 tonnes.

"We are expecting to produce around 200,000 tonnes of copper this year but I don't know if we will reach the target. However, with the new investments happening at KCM, production will go up to 500,000 tones of finished copper per annum," Equamo said.

"And with the increasing price of fuel on the international market, profits will be affected. Of course it is not government's fault because it has no choice. We are the biggest consumer of diesel and the increase in prices has pushed up production costs."

Labels: INVESTMENT, KCM

posted by MrK @ 6:14 PM