Govt grounds Luanshya Copper Mines

By BENNIE MUNDANDO
MY ministry has suspended all mining operations by Luanshya Copper Mines including ground clearing in the Roan Basin until the mine meets all the conditions of approval of the project, Mines Minister Richard Musukwa has said.
Mr. Musukwa told the Sunday Nation that the Roan Basin Pit is part of the five open pits comprising ore sources for the Muliashi Copper Project of LCM.
He said the other four open pits were Muliashi North Pit, Muliashi South Pit, Baluba East Pit, and Baluba Central Pit.
He said the Roan Basin Pit Site is overlain with critical surface infrastructure that includes the Cricket Club, the Tennis Club and lies in close proximity to the main General Offices, soccer field and residential houses.
He said the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), with input from Mines Safety Department, approved the Muliashi Copper Project by CLM through a letter dated November 10, 2010.
He said the project was approved subject to, amongst other conditions, that “CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Plc shall not implement mining of the Roan Basin which was close to the general offices for the company and the residential areas within the Town Centre without submitting a specific plan that shall be approved by relevant authorities.”
“With total disregard of the condition in the Decision Letter, management commenced clearing the site for the Roan Basin Open Pit and in the process disturbed some surface infrastructure such as the Cricket Club and the Basketball Court. Management’s explanation for this action was that they first wanted to clear the surface area and not to commence mining operations.
“They further claimed that they wanted to ward off the illegal miners by maintaining their presence on the ground. The truth of the matter is that clearing of the ground is commencement of project implementation. The company is in clear breach of the condition of approval of the project by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency,” Mr. Musukwa said.
He said for this reason, the ministry had suspended all mining operations, including ground clearing in the Roan Basin, until the mine meets all the conditions of approval of the project.
“Further, appropriate sanctions (penalties) will be applied on the mine as provided for under the Mines and Minerals Development Act in addition to sanctions to be applied by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency,” Mr Musukwa said.

Source: Daily Nation

MINING OPERATIONS SUSPENDED

By Robert Mwanza:

Government has suspended mining activities at the Roan Basin CNMC-Luanshya copper Mines PLC.

Mines Minister Richard Musukwa says this is because the firm has not met all the conditions of approval of the project.

Mr. Musukwa says it is sad that the firm had started to carry out some activities even before the project is fully approved.

To this effect, Mr. Musukwa says appropriate sanctions will be mated out on the mining company by Government.

In a statement to ZNBC News today, The Minister said with total disregard of the conditions, management started clearing the site for the roan basin open pit and in the process disturbed some surface infrastructure such as the cricket club and the basketball court.

However, management’s explanation for the action is that the firm wanted to clear the surface area and not to start mining operations.

According to the production projections submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, Mining of the Roan Basin is scheduled to start towards the end of the Muliashi Project in 2025.

Source: ZNBC

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Extract from 2019 Annual Report

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Plc (CNMC) recorded a turnover of ZMW3.39billion (US$303.19 million) for the year ended 31st March 2019 (2018: ZMW2.22 billion (US$232.1 million). The
profit after tax was ZMW366.04 million (US$32.69 million), (2018: ZMW444.81million (US$ 46.58 million)). The increase in revenue and profitability was as a result of increased production
during the year as output at Baluba and the slag reclamation project complimented production from Muliashi open pit mine.
Total 2018 copper production increased to 47,256 tonnes from 43,177 in 2017. Focus has been placed on managing the high production costs at Baluba by balancing it out with production from slag reclamation. There were no dividends declared during the year ended 31 December 2018 (2017: Nil)

CNMC-LCM Donates Fertiliser, Seed To Luanshya Farmers

Luanshya Copper Mines Chief Executive Officer Wang Jingiun says the growing farming community in the district has posed a serious challenge on government to provide farming inputs.

Meanwhile, CNMC-LCM has donated farming inputs to the farmers in Luanshya for the 2019/2020 farming season.

Jingiun said this when he donated bags of seeds and fertilizer to Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda and Luanshya Central Member of Parliament Steven Chungu.

“The growing community in Luanshya has posed a challenge on the government to supply farming inputs. I am pleased to announce that this year, we have decided to donate fertilizer and seed to the vulnerable but viable farmers at the cost of K110,000 inputs this year. We have doubled the quantity of both seed and fertilizer,” Wang said.

He said LCM was going through challenges but has decided to help the vulnerable farmers.

“Despite the past challenges our company has continued to face due to the pressure on the global economic downturn, we have nevertheless continued to support our small scale farmers. This demonstrates the importance we attach to the social and economic well being of the people of Luanshya,” said Wang.

Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda said the gesture to support farmers comes at a time when the country is trying to diversify from mining to agriculture.

“These donations are made despite the company facing some financial operational challenges. But we will create an environment for you to operate freely. The local authority will ensure that you operate well. We want to assure you that these inputs will be put to good use. These inputs will go to the intended beneficiaries. We want to commend the President Dr Edgar Lungu for the first time, that the inputs for the farmers have been received on time in the entire Copperbelt province,” said Chanda.

“Once we support the agriculture sector, then we are assured of food security. Please don’t sell these inputs that you are given. Let us make Luanshya the food basket of the Copperbelt.”

Later, Chungu expressed concern that only the same farmers were benefiting from the support.

He said the fertilizer and seeds will be taken to the churches who will identify the vulnerable.

“Since 2009, LCM has been giving out seed and fertilizer. But it is the same farmers who are benefiting. Are they growing or what? So we will take the fertilizer and seeds to the Church who will identify the vulnerable farmers,” Chungu said.

However, the truck carrying the fertilizer and seeds was offloaded at the Luanhsya Municipal Council, a sign that the inputs will not be take to the Churches as directed by Chungu.

Zambia’s copper production rises to 861,946 tonnes in 2018

Zambia has recorded a marginal increase in its copper production for 2018 to around 861,946 metric tonnes from 799,329 tonnes recorded in 2017, boosted by First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM) operations in Kalumbila District.

But last year’s increased copper output still means that Zambia remains Africa’s second-biggest producer of the red metal, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) expected to hit over 1.2 million metric tonnes.

According to the official Ministry of Mines data, Zambia’s total copper production last year marginally rose to an estimated 861,946 tonnes from 799,329 tonnes recorded in 2017.

The total copper production included all of the country’s 10 large scale mining operations as well as small-scale mining operations, which accounted for at least 10,859 metric tonnes from the total tonnage.

Data reveals that although FQM’s Kansanshi Mining Plc recorded a marginal drop of 249,532 tonnes last year from 250,803 tonnes in 2017, its output in 2018 was the highest among all 10 mining companies in the country for a third successive year.

Additionally, Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda explained that FQM’s Sentinel Copper Mine in Kalumbila District produced record output of 223,655 metric tonnes, which helped contribute to Zambia’s overall copper production increase.

“The performance of the sector was better in 2018 relative to 2017. The increase in copper production is attributed to: i. The ramp-up in production at Kalumbila; ii. Improved plant availability and utilization at the Tailings Leach Plant at KCM coupled with higher grades; iii. Commissioning of the Synclinorium Shaft at Mopani in Kitwe has increased volume of ore being hoisted,” Chanda explained in a statement released, Wednesday.

Both Kansanshi and the Sentinel’s copper output last year constitute for 473,187 tonnes out of the country’s total production or nearly 55 percent from just two operations.

And 6 other mining companies equally recorded upward copper production output last year.

These included: Mopani Copper Mines, whose output hit 62,191 metric tonnes from 44,860 tonnes in 2017; Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), whose output rose to 93,165 tonnes last year from 84,436 tonnes in 2017; Chibuluma Mines, who recorded 11,258 tonnes in 2018 from 10,194 tonnes in 2017; CNMC Luanshya, whose output increased to 50,363 tonnes last year from 43,206 tonnes in 2017 and Sino Metals, who recorded 9,312 tonnes from 7,100 tonnes, while Lubambe’s copper production hit 22,074 tonnes from 18,037 tonnes during the period under review respectively.

On the other hand, Barrick Gold’s Lumwana Copper Mine saw its output fall to 101,890 tonnes last year from 116,170 tonnes in 2017, while NFCA recorded 27,644 tonnes down from 27,706 tonnes during the period under review respectively.

But Zambia’s increased 2018 copper production still means that the country remains Africa’s second-biggest producer of the red metal, with the DRC expected to hit over 1.2 million metric tonnes.

The DRC first managed to surpass Zambia as the continent’s biggest copper producer after that country managed to produce over 900,000 metric tonnes of copper in 2013, registering a sharp rise and surpassing Zambia’s 754,916 tonnes produced that year.

Source: News Diggers

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Extract from 2018 Annual Report

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Plc (CNMC) recorded a turnover of K2,559 million (US$268 million) for the year ended 31st December 2017 (2016: K1,701 million (US$172 million). The profit after tax was K 353 million (US$37 million) (2016: K3.79 million (US$ 0.397 million loss)).

CNMC planned to produce 33,000 tonnes of copper in 2017, the actual volume produced was 43,177 tonnes as a result of increased mined volumes at Muliashi mine. Baluba mine remained under care and maintenance during the year with the total care and maintenance costs being K121.26 million (US$12.9 million) in 2017. Works to bring it back into production commenced in the first quarter of 2018.

There were no dividends declared during the year under review (2016: Nil).

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine to pump US$13 million to reopen Baluba Mine

China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Luanshya Copper Mine says US$ 13 million will be pumped into the reopening of Baluba mine.

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Wang Jingjun said the firm was looking forward to reopen Baluba mine this year after the increase in copper prices on the international market.

Mr. Wang has stated that the reopening of Baluba mine will be enhanced by concerted efforts with the government and the community of Luanshya town.

He has appealed to members of the public to take time to understand and appreciate the challenges the mining company was facing such us increment in the price of sulphuric acid, electricity tariffs by Copperbelt Energy Corporation and paying back of the loan especially now that the operations of Baluba mine were about to resume.

And Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda is happy with china nonferrous Mining Corporation, Luanshya copper mine’s plans to reopen Baluba mine in 2018.

Speaking during a meeting with CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Wang Jingjun held at the Mine’s Head Office in Luanshya on Thursday, Mr. Chanda has called on CNMC Luanshya copper mines to support local suppliers and contractors once Baluba opens.

Mr Chanda also urged the mine to employ as many local people as possible in the Baluba mine workforce and first consider all those who are on forced leave and those who may had left on voluntary separation scheme.


Source: Lusaka Times

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Extract from 2017 Annual Report

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines plc (CNMC) recorded a turnover of K1, 700.75 million (US$172.35 million)
(unaudited) for the year ended 31st December 2016 (2015: K1, 311.94 million (US$201.7 million). The loss after tax was K306.40 million (US$31.05 million) (2015: K831.07 million (US$127.77 million) loss).

There were no dividends declared during the year under review (2016: Nil).

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Extract from 2016 Annual Report

CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines plc (CNMC) recorded a turnover of K1,867.7 million (US189.1 million) for the year ended 31st March 2016 (2015: K1, 741.1 million (US$267.7 million). The loss after tax was K1, 052.1 million (US$106.5 million) (2014:K72.2 million (US$11.1 million) profit).

CNMC planned to produce 46,000t of copper metal which included 16,000t copper in concentrate from Baluba Mine and 30,000t of copper cathode from Muliashi Mine. By the end of 31 December 2015, Baluba Mine and Muliashi Mine produced 11,371t and 33,101t of copper metal respectively. Thus in 2015 the total copper production was 44,472t, representing 96.68% of the annual plan. As noted, Muliashi Mine exceeded its annual production target for 2015 whilst Baluba Mine did not achieve its annual production target.

The failure by Baluba mine to meet its target is attributed to the difficulty in mining the gently inclined thin ore body with its variable structure and the increasing reclaimed tonnage and decreasing geological grade and also the fact that the mine had been put on Care and Maintenance since September 2015 because of power shortages.

There were no dividends paid during the year ended 31st December 2015 (2014: nil).

China’s CNMC says followed the law in closing Luanshya Copper Mines

China’s CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines followed Zambian law when it closed the Baluba mine and sent more than 1 600 workers on forced leave due to plunging prices and energy shortages, the company said on Monday.

Zambia Government had threatened to revoke Luanshya’s mining licence if the company did not reinstate workers. A slide in global copper prices has put pressure on Africa’s second biggest producer of the metal, with export earnings depressed despite the kwacha’s slump against the dollar this year.

“As a law abiding corporate citizen, we have always followed the Zambian laws,” CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines spokesman Sydney Chileya said in a statement, adding that it did not plan to make employees redundant. Those placed on forced leave would receive a monthly allowance and other entitlements such as medical cover, the company said. Chileya said the entire Luanshya Mine would have collapsed within three months if the company had not suspended production at Baluba.

The Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ) said on Saturday it would challenge the decision, which it alleged was made without consulting labour unions. Glencore’s Zambian subsidiary Mopani Copper Mines, is in talks with the government and unions over plans to suspend its production, but a source close to the company said on Friday a large number of workers would be retained.