Zambia has big mining potential, observes Murata

Zambia has big mining potential, observes Murata
By Mwila Chansa in Chingola
Fri 29 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

HITACHI general manager for Africa Hidemi Murata believes Zambia has immense potential to expand its mining industry.

And Japanese ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura has disclosed that the delegation of Japanese chief executives currently in Zambia has had a good impression of the country's investment environment.

In an interview after a delegation of Japanese executives visited Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Chingola on Wednesday, Murata observed that Zambia could make its mining industry competitive especially if the country partnered with foreign firms.

"I believe you still have big potential to expand mining and these days you have many foreign firms coming here who can give Zambian operations more power and efficiency to compete with other countries," Murata said.

"I think if you have foreign influence, you can be at the same level with other competitors."

He observed that mining had become very competitive globally and that countries that were realising maximum benefits from their mining operations had been working hard to increase efficiency.

Murata also tipped Zambia to become Hitachi's hub of mining business equipment in this part of Africa, catering for neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.

"We want to expand and enhance our operations here," said Murata.

And speaking to journalists after the KCM tour, Mitamura said the Japanese executives had had a good impression about Zambia and hoped that they would follow up their observations.

"They have got a good impression. I am also very impressed, it is the first time for most of them (Japanese executives) to see an open pit. They are going to establish a company in Zambia for sales and marketing," said Mitamura.