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Lubambe mine prioritizes safety

Lubambe Copper Mine has procured the first ever self-contained mine Emergency Refuge Chambers in Zambia. The consignment of five refuge Chambers has been procured at a cost of US$ 475,000 from Mine Arc Systems of Australia.

Lubambe Mine Communications Manager Loyce Saili said the procurement of the refuge Chambers by the copper miner is a move toward enhancing Emergency Response in case of mine accidents arising from fire, explosions, flooding and release of smoke and other forms of toxic gas.

“The refuge Chambers will enable Lubambe to provide safe refuge for the miners where evacuation is not immediate in the event of an incident. The refuge Chambers will provide a safe and secure go to area for Miners to gather and wait extraction, “ she said.

Speaking yesterday during the media site visit at Lubambe Mine in Chililabombwe, she added that the refuge Chambers are with vital life support systems to create a safe, ongoing environment for occupants.

She further narrated that the system include, oxygen supplies, air conditioning system, electrical system, gas detection system and CO2 and carbon monoxide removal system as well as communication system, camera, seats of 20 in each and chemical toilet.

“Safety is our number one priority, we want our miners to be safe through ensuring preparedness for any eventuality,” Saili stated.

And General Manager Tony Davies said the chambers will be placed underground in the coming months and the workers will under go training on how to operate the equipments.

He also said the Chambers will last forever and has the capacity to accommodate above 20 people during an emergency, as what is required is the increase in oxygen supply.

Lubambe Copper Mine is a large-scale underground Mine owned by EMR capital of Australia who have 80 percent shares and ZCCM-IH who hold 20 percent.

Source: Miningnews Zambia

Investee Company News

Lubambe mine takes leadership in mine safety – Invests USD0.5 million in Emergency Refuge Chamber

Lubambe Copper Mine has procured the first ever self-contained mine Emergency Refuge Chambers in Zambia. The consignment of five refuge Chambers has been procured at a cost of US$ 475,000 from Mine Arc Systems of Australia.

Lubambe Mine Communications Manager Loyce Saili said the procurement of the refuge Chambers by the copper miner is a move toward enhancing Emergency Response in case of mine accidents arising from fire, explosions, flooding and release of smoke and other forms of toxic gas.

“The refuge Chambers will enable Lubambe to provide safe refuge for the miners where evacuation is not immediate in the event of an incident. The refuge Chambers will provide a safe and secure go to area for Miners to gather and wait extraction, “ she said.

Speaking yesterday during the media site visit at Lubambe Mine in Chililabombwe, she added that the refuge Chambers are with vital life support systems to create a safe, ongoing environment for occupants.

She further narrated that the system include, oxygen supplies, air conditioning system, electrical system, gas detection system and CO2 and carbon monoxide removal system as well as communication system, camera, seats of 20 in each and chemical toilet.

“Safety is our number one priority, we want our miners to be safe through ensuring preparedness for any eventuality,” Saili stated.

And General Manager Tony Davies said the chambers will be placed underground in the coming months and the workers will under go training on how to operate the equipments.

He also said the Chambers will last forever and has the capacity to accommodate above 20 people during an emergency, as what is required is the increase in oxygen supply.

Lubambe Copper Mine is a large-scale underground Mine owned by EMR capital of Australia who have 80 percent shares and ZCCM-IH who hold 20 percent.

Source: Zambia Business

Industry News

Zambia’s finance minister says new mining taxes will not hit operations

LUSAKA – Mining companies operating in Zambia will still meet their operational costs even after the government imposes higher taxes in Africa’s No.2 copper producer, its finance minister said on Wednesday.

Zambia plans to introduce new mining duties, replace Value Added Tax with sales tax and increase royalties to help bring down mounting debt, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said while delivering the 2019 budget speech last month.

Speaking on Wednesday at the closure of the debate on the budget speech in parliament, Mwanakatwe said Zambia was aiming to boost revenue collection.

Mwanakatwe told parliament that even with the proposed taxes “we are confident that mining companies will be able to meet their operational costs.”

Her comment appeared to be a sign that Lusaka will not reverse the proposals to raise taxes in the sector.

“We must register an improved and steady flow of revenue from mining commensurate with the size of extraction.”

Mining firms represented by Zambia’s chamber of Mines have opposed the proposed tax, while the Association of Zambian Mineral Exploration Companies has said the higher taxes would hurt investment in finding new mines.

Foreign mining companies operating in Zambia include NFC Africa, majority owned by China Non-ferrous Metals Company Limited (CNMC), Canada’s First Quantum Minerals, Glencore, Barrick Gold and Vedanta Resources.

Source: Morning Weekly

Investee Company News

CEC divests from Telecoms business

The Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has sold off its 50 percent shares in CEC Liquid Telecommunication Limited (CEC Liquid Telecom) to pan-African telecoms group, Liquid Telecommunication Holdings Limited (Liquid Telecom).

The disposal of shares by Copperbelt Energy Cooperation brings to an end the long standing relations that span from 2011 as equal partners in the joint-venture subsidiary.

CEC Managing director Owen Silavwe said the move is to divert from the telecoms space due to recent developments in the sector, which he said had necessitated a review strategy.

“With this acquisition, Liquid Telecom now has full ownership of CEC Liquid Telecom and its retail arm, Hai Zambia, however we would continue to be involved with the company as an infrastructure provider,” Silavwe said.

He said at the time of forming the venture, CEC’s investment rationale in CEC Liquid Telecom was to facilitate for the full commercialization of CEC’s telecoms assets, ensuring adequate ring-fencing of the telecoms operations from the power business.

Silavwe said the CEC Liquid Telecom joint-venture, formed by the two partners in 2011, had grown to become a market leader and had invested in the rollout of a fibre optic network across Zambia that, today, delivers some of the country’s and Africa’s fastest broadband speeds.

“While this transaction provides an equity exit for CEC, we will continue to be involved with the company as an infrastructure provider. We are glad to have been a part of CEC Liquid Telecom’s innovative service offering under our part ownership and remain excited about its future,” Silavwe added.

Source: Zambia Reports

Investee Company News

Zambian power firm CEC divests from telecoms business

Copperbelt Energy Corp (CEC) has sold its 50% stake in CEC Liquid Telecom to Pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecommunication Holdings, the power firm said on Tuesday.

CEC, Zambia’s main supplier of power for its mines, and Liquid Telecom were equal partners in the joint telecoms firm since 2011, which is a market leader and has been rolling out a fibre optic network across Zambia.

The power firm did not disclose the amount it sold its stake for or why it had decided to dispose of its investment.

However, CEC said it would continue to be involved with the telecoms firm as an infrastructure provider.

Source: Mining Weekly

Industry News

Zambia’s finance minister says new mining taxes will not hit operations

LUSAKA, Oct 17 (Reuters) – Mining companies operating in Zambia will still meet their operational costs even after the government imposes higher taxes in Africa’s No.2 copper producer, its finance minister said on Wednesday.

Zambia plans to introduce new mining duties, replace Value Added Tax with sales tax and increase royalties to help bring down mounting debt, Finance minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said while delivering the 2019 budget speech last month.

Speaking on Wednesday at the closure of the debate on the budget speech in parliament, Mwanakatwe said Zambia was aiming to boost revenue collection.

Mwanakatwe told parliament that even with the proposed taxes “we are confident that mining companies will be able to meet their operational costs.”

Her comment appeared to be a sign that Lusaka will not reverse the proposals to raise taxes in the sector.

“We must register an improved and steady flow of revenue from mining commensurate with the size of extraction.”

Mining firms represented by Zambia’s chamber of Mines have opposed the proposed tax, while the Association of Zambian Mineral Exploration Companies has said the higher taxes would hurt investment in finding new mines.

Foreign mining companies operating in Zambia include NFC Africa, majority owned by China Non-ferrous Metals Company Limited (CNMC), Canada’s First Quantum Minerals, Glencore, Barrick Gold and Vedanta Resources. (Reporting by Chris Mfula Editing by James Macharia)

Source: Reuters

Industry News

State to tighten mineral exports monitoring

GOVERNMENT is investigating the difference between production and exports declared by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to determine if mineral royalty paid on cobalt matches with quantity and value.

Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa told Parliament yesterday that Government will soon introduce a mechanism through which mining companies will be issued with invoices for mineral royalty based on mineral analysis.

“This will allow for payment of mineral royalty on all minerals contained in the consignment and not on sales as it currently is.

“We will also provide adequate resources for the ministry to collect samples from the sites where the commodities are mined.

Source: Daily Mail

Investee Company News

Mines PLC’s assurance to keep miners’ jobs

Government says it is gratified with Mopani Copper Mines management’s assurance that no miner will lose employment during its implementation of cost saving measures the company is undertaking.

Mufulira District Commissioner, Hildah Kawesha says Mopani Copper Mines management has informed her that no one of its employee will lose their job at the Mufulira mine site it is implementing cost saving measures meant to keep the operations of the company viable.

Ms Kawesha who revealed this Bright Nundwe paid a courtesy call on her yesterday in Mufulira District, that Mopani has informed her that since it has been operating at a loss due to operational challenges it has undergone, it has decided to implement cost saving measures.

According to a memo issued to its employees, the mining giant cites low copper output, increased power tariffs, and unpaid VAT refunds as among the major reasons that risk making the operations of the mine unsustainable.

And Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe has instructed security wings in the area to be on high alert for any smuggling of mealie meal as this could jeopardize the country’s food security.

Mr. Nundwe said there is need to ensure full enforcement of the existing ban on mealie meal exportation ,in order to avoid hikes in mealie meal prices.

Source: Lusaka Times

Industry News

Mining sector GDP input low

GOVERNMENT is concerned about the mining industry’s low contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) despite being a critical player in the country’s economy.

It is for this reason that Government wants to see that the sector increases its contribution from around 12 percent of the GDP, the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year, to about 40 percent.

Speaking at the Africa Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Forum yesterday, Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe said Government is keen on encouraging value addition to the mining industry because it is a strong business, thereby proposing to reduce company income tax from 35 percent to 15 percent.

Source: Daily Mail

Industry News

Luapula calls for manganese mining audit

The Luapula Province Administration has called for an audit of manganese mining licenses in the province.

Provincial Permanent Secretary Buleti Nsemukila says the move is aimed at ascertaining people who hold licenses so that it can be easy to facilitate for partnerships with potential investors.

Speaking when Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda paid a courtesy call on him recently, Dr. Nsemukila said this could be done through the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings -ZCCM-IH.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chanda said his office is concerned with lack of adherence to mining regulations in Luapula and Central Provinces by some mining firms.

He revealed that his office will soon be engaging traditional leaders on issuance of mining licenses.

Source: ZNBC