Gamsberg, which is in the Northern Cape, holds one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc sulphide deposits, with approximately 160 Mt of defined ore resources.

For a natural resources company like Vedanta, South Africa offers a unique opportunity with its wealth of diverse natural resources, Agarwal said. The London-listed firm mines copper in Zambia at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and produces zinc and lead concentrate at Black Mountain Mining (BMM) in South Africa.

Mining conglomerate Vedanta Resources will invest a total Dollars 1 billion (about Rs 6,600 crore) in its Gamsberg mine project in South Africa, which is one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc deposits.

The head of the Indian natural resources company, with interests in oil and gas, zinc-lead-silver, copper, iron-ore, aluminium and commercial energy, announced that Vedanta would be signing two memorandums of understanding with South African companies as part of the delegation accompanying Modi.

A year ago was not an easy time to be starting a zinc mine but Vedanta’s timing has proved opportune in that zinc, which has been unloved for so long, is back in fashion.

Groundbreaking at Gamsberg signalled the start of the development of a 250 000 t/y opencast zinc mine, concentrator plant and associated infrastructure at the mining town of Aggeneys, 113 km north-east of Springbok, where Vedanta is engaged in a multi-year $782-million Southern African Gamsberg-Skorpion integrated zinc project.

“I believe that this is the largest project going on in Africa also South Africa has a tremendous mining skill and India does not have that, we have taken a lot of mining companies, spent nearly 200 million dollars on these South African companies to take the South African contractors to India to develop our mines – so it is a two-way business”.

The Durban-born Naidoo made that comment in reference to this year’s final shipment of zinc from Vedanta Resources’ Lisheen mine in Ireland – also acquired from Anglo American – which brought to an end the flow of 120 000 t of zinc a year from Ireland’s now-closed Tipperary province mine.

The MoUs are for the development and supply of equipment and transfer of technology, with an aim to improve safety and productivity at the mechanised underground mines of Vedanta’s subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL).

Some 125 South Africans work on various HZL sites across India and Vedanta has awarded projects worth nearly $300 million to at least seven companies based in South Africa to date. BMM is the largest private employer in the Bushmanland and Namaqua region, providing employment for 1,300 people. As such, the company has committed to all closure processes reflecting best practice in terms of sustainability and environmental rehabilitation.

Source: Equilibrio informativo

By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has reduced the cost of production by 18 per cent while production has increased by seven per cent despite the challenges mining companies are facing.

KCM vice-president for local economic development, David Paterson said to reduce the impact of low copper prices on the international market, the company had worked on the new business strategy which had seen production costs drop by 18 per cent.

“We have developed a new production strategy which has seen production costs dropping by 18 per cent while increasing copper ore production by seven per cent despite the unfavourable business conditions on the international market,” Mr Paterson said.

He was briefing United Nations country coordinator Janet Rogan who toured the mining company’s facilities in Chililabombwe and Chingola on Wednesday.

Mr Paterson said KCM had been working on increasing efficiency by deploying one of the best modern technology equipment which had seen production costs go down.
He said the company wanted to prepare for the future.

“We want to prepare for the future so that when commodity prices start picking, they find us in a much better condition,” Mr Paterson said.

He said since the company took over mining operations in the country, the parent company, Vedanta Resources Plc, had invested to a tune of US$3 billion, a demonstration of the company’s commitment to the future of its mining in the country.

KCM geological services manager Davy Mubita said the sinking of the shaft at Konkola underground mine in Chililabombwe had expanded the lifespan and copper ore production for KCM.

“We recently extended the production capacity of the mine to eight million tonnes of ore after deepening shafts as well as sinking new ones at Konkola underground mine,” Mr Mubita said.

Source: Times of Zambia

With only 10 days to go before the prestigious KCM 2016 Zambia Open tees off, all is set for Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and the Nchanga Golf Club to host yet another major golf tournament.

The golf championship is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 31st May to Saturday 5th June 2016.

The Golf Championship has attracted over 130 international and local players who include former champions, Scottish Doug McGuigan, who scooped the last KCM Zambia Open staged at Nchanga Golf Club in 2011, the 2008 winner Tyrone Ferreira and Justin Harding the 2012 Champion.

From the local front, Zambia’s most celebrated golfers Madalitso Muthiya and his Ndola-born counterpart Dayne Moore will be leading the pack with the hope of snatching the coveted title.

The Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) has confirmed that 25 sponsors cutting across the telecommunications, banking, insurance, mining and construction sectors have come on board to help raise $480,000 out of $500,000 required to host a successful tournament.

ZGU President Jason Kazilimani has thanked the various partners for their response to the clarion call to support this tournament which is a major event on the Sunshine Tour calendar. He has appealed for more financial support.
Although we are just a few days from the tournament we are still appealing to other partners to come on board because the Nchanga Golf Club requires further financing to make this a memorable event that will not only boost the profile of golf and its development, but will make it a bigger and better event. I encourage Zambian companies to support this noble event.

KCM’s involvement in the Zambia is anchored on its extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, underpinned on four pillars including sport.

CEO Stephen Din said recently “KCM supports sport because it is an excellent way to develop leadership. We are always looking to develop the next generation of leaders for Zambia and for our business. Golf is one of the sports which helps individuals to keep fit and provides an excellent platform for business interactions”.

he Standard Chartered Bank has given a sponsorship of ZMW 200,000 towards the KCM 2016 Zambia Golf Open scheduled to take place from 31st May to 4th June at the Nchanga Golf Club in Chingola.

The Bank expressed delight at being part of the prestigious tournament and anticipates that its sponsorship of this international tournament would contribute to its success.

Our support towards the 2016 Zambia Open Golf Tournament demonstrates Standard Chartered Bank’s commitment to sporting activities in Zambia. This sponsorship is also testimony to the high importance we attach to the Copperbelt region as a key business hub. This year we are proud to commemorate 110 years of doing business in Zambia, since we opened our first branch in Kalomo in 1906. We have no doubt that the Zambia Open Organizing Committee (ZOOC) will put on yet another formidable show this year, and we look forward to being part of this unique event.

Andrew Okai, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Zambia.

And ZGU President Jason Kazilimani says Standard Chartered Bank’s generous donation will ensure a successful tournament that lives up to its reputation of being one of the most prestigious events on the Sunshine Tour calendar.

Mr. Kazilimani expressed gratitude towards the bank noting that it would be impossible to host the tournament without various sponsors coming on board and urged other companies to join Standard Chartered Bank in contributing to the hosting of the event, whose main sponsor is KCM Plc.

Although we are just a couple of weeks from the tournament we are still appealing to other partners to come on board because the Nchanga Golf Club requires further financing to make this a memorable event that will not only boost the profile of golf and its development, but will make it a bigger and better event. Those companies that have pledges should come forward and honour them. I encourage Zambian companies to support this noble event.

Jason Kazilimani, President, Zambia Golf Union

He also thanked Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) for once again accepting to be the major sponsor of this year’s Zambia Open Golf Championship, a major fixture on the Sunshine Tour annual calendar. Mr Kazilimani said that the event would enhance the development of golf in the country.