First Quantum Minerals Limited (TSE:FM) Receives C$14.48 Consensus Price Target from Analysts

Shares of First Quantum Minerals Limited (TSE:FM) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$14.48.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on FM. CIBC upped their target price on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$14.00 to C$18.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$13.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Raymond James set a C$15.00 price target on shares of First Quantum Minerals and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of First Quantum Minerals from C$16.00 to C$15.50 in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, National Bank Financial raised shares of First Quantum Minerals from a “sector perform spec overwgt” rating to an “outperform spec overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

FM traded down C$1.99 on Friday, hitting C$6.97. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,850,591 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,727,114. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is C$11.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$11.34. The firm has a market cap of $4.67 billion and a P/E ratio of -83.98. First Quantum Minerals has a 12 month low of C$6.60 and a 12 month high of C$16.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.61.

The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 16th will be given a dividend of $0.005 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 15th. First Quantum Minerals’s dividend payout ratio is presently -8.98%.

First Quantum Minerals Company Profile

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for copper, nickel, gold, and zinc ores, as well as produces acid. The company operates seven mines, including the Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Australia; the Kansanshi copper-gold mine and copper smelter in Zambia; the Sentinel copper operation in North Western Province of Zambia; the Guelb Moghrein copper-gold mine in Mauritania; the Çayeli copper-zinc mine in Turkey; the Las Cruces copper mine in Spain; and the Pyhäsalmi copper-zinc mine in Finland.

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Source: Redmond Register

First Quantum Minerals deliveres 5,000 stoves to communities in a new initiative to minimise deforestation and pollution

First Quantum Minerals has delivered 5,000 stoves to communities in a new initiative to minimise deforestation and pollution.

The Village Stoves programme involves FQM, in line with its environmental policy, teaming up with Zambia-based carbon credit and environmental company, The African Stove Company, and local small-scale manufacturers to develop a low-cost stove that is about 60% more efficient than conventional open-fire stoves used in Zambia’s remote areas.
TASC has over 20 years’ experience in international energy innovation and environmental projects.

The pilot programme, which was launched last year, involves installation of 5,000 United Nations-accredited twig-burning stoves in the communities surrounding the company’s Kansanshi mine in Solwezi.

On average, the new stoves have a UN-tested water boiling efficiency of 40% as opposed to 10% on an open fire; by comparison a kettle is 80% efficient – and is estimated to save 2.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per stove each year.

This means that over the seven-year lifetime of the project each stove – provided it is being used daily as a replacement for traditional fires – will save 17.5 tonnes of carbon.

The pilot phase therefore has a potential carbon saving of 87 500 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to about 3,000, 30-tonne trucks of firewood.

Kansanshi Foundation co-ordinator Guy Hammond said the nature of the fuel used by the stove lends itself to normal tree mortality rates and sustainable twig harvesting of forests, which naturally shed dead branches.

“This project has been over two years in the pipeline, but we are delighted that FQM is leading the way in doing our part to combat climate change and deforestation in North-Western Province,” he said.

“The exponential growth of Solwezi and Kalumbila towns due to our mining operations has seen an explosion of charcoal production to feed an ever-growing market, exacerbated now by the power crisis we are facing as a country. With the Village Stove programme, FQM has taken a proactive approach to saving our forests.”

What’s more, the upgraded traditional cooking stoves also make use of cutting-edge technology. Each stove is tagged by GPS transmitter and its fixed location is uploaded onto the UN carbon credit platform database. Annual random inspections by UN-accredited officers ensure the stoves are being used and are where they are supposed to be, and then carbon credits are awarded for sale on the open market.

Kansanshi Foundation Manager Bruce Lewis says: “Aside from the improved efficiency that dramatically reduces the amount of charcoal and wood needed to cook; the stove’s design also helps significantly reduce the risk of excessive smoke inhalation for the user by diverting the minimal amount of smoke the stove may produce safely away from the cooking area.”

Smoke inhalation is one of the leading causes of respiratory problems among village dwellers especially women who do most of the cooking.
He added that lower smoke levels not only mean lower risk of smoke-related illnesses among members of the local communities but also lower carbon emissions, thereby helping Zambia combat climate change.

The Village Stove makes use of unique thermofluidic flows created by a specially designed metal frame to minimise energy loss and ensure the highest possible amount of heat energy is directed to the base of the cooking pot.

The frame is bricked in to the kitchen wall for maximum safety and convenience.

Some 50 local manufacturers have been engaged to manufacture the frames.

The mine will lead the distribution exercise and train officers to carry out installation, maintenance and community training on their use.

And TASC founder Alick MacIntosh said he was happy to be working with FQM and was looking forward to seeing more stoves installed at the end of the pilot phase.

Source: Lusaka Times

First Quantum Minerals Announces 2019 Preliminary Production and 2020-2022 Guidance

TORONTO, Jan. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (“First Quantum” or the “Company”) (TSX:FMtoday announced preliminary production for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, and guidance for production, capital expenditure and costs for the years 2020 to 2022.

2019 PRELIMINARY PRODUCTION

The Company achieved its highest ever annual copper production of 702,000 tonnes, an increase of 96kt from 2018 production. Copper production in Q4 2019 was 204kt compared to 158kt in the same quarter in 2018.

Cobre Panama’s final mill (8th mill), came on line in mid-December, providing additional capacity on the third milling train.  Mill throughput can now ramp-up to annualized production of 85 million tonnes.  Mill throughput for the month of December was 6.6 million tonnes. Production for Q4 2019 was 60kt with 25kt produced in the month of December.

Kansanshi copper production for the fourth quarter was in line with the comparable period of 2018 though, as noted in Q2 and Q3 2019, lower oxide ore grades and resulting recoveries contributed to lower copper production for the year compared with 2018.

Sentinel copper production for the fourth quarter reflects lower feed grades and lower recoveries due to transitional ore mined from the east cutback of the pit which resulted in lower production compared with the comparable period of 2018.

Amounts are preliminary and subject to final adjustment. The final production figures will be provided in the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019.

000’s   Q4
  2019
Q4
2018
  Year
  2019
  Year
  2018
Copper production (tonnes)1,2 204 158 702 606
Gold production (ounces)2 78 48 257 185
Zinc production (tonnes) 3 8 18 27
Copper (000’s tonnes)1,2   Q4
  2019
Q4
2018
  Year
  2019
  Year
  2018
Cobre Panama2 60 147
Kansanshi 61 62 232 252
Sentinel 51 61 220 224
Las Cruces 18 18 48 71
Other 14 17 55 59
  204 158 702 606
Gold production (000’s ounces)2   Q4
  2019
Q4
2018
  Year
  2019
  Year
  2018
Cobre Panama2 28 60
Kansanshi 36 33 145 130
Other 14 15 52 55
  78 48 257 185

 1  Production presented on a copper concentrate basis, i.e. mine production only. Production does not include output from the Kansanshi smelter.
 2  Copper and gold production volumes include pre-commercial and commercial production from Cobre Panama. Cobre Panama was declared in commercial production from September 1, 2019.

Copper (000’s tonnes)   Q4
  2019
Q4
2018
  Year
  2019
  Year
  2018
Commercial 204 158 634 606
Pre-commercial 68
  204 158 702 606
Gold (000’s ounces)   Q4
  2019
Q4
2018
  Year
  2019
  Year
  2018
Commercial 78 48 233 185
Pre-commercial 24
  78 48 257 185

2020 – 2022 GUIDANCE

Guidance is based on a number of assumptions and estimates as of December 31, 2019, including among other things, assumptions about metal prices and anticipated costs and expenditures. Guidance involves estimates of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different.

Production guidance

000’s 2020 2021 2022
Copper (tonnes) 830 – 880 800 – 850 800 – 850
Gold (ounces) 280 – 300 280 – 300 280 – 300
Nickel (tonnes) 15 – 20 25 – 28 25 – 28

Production guidance by operation

Copper

000’s tonnes 2020 2021 2022
Cobre Panama 285 – 310 310 – 330 310 – 340
Kansanshi 220 – 235 220 – 235 220 – 230
Sentinel 230 – 240 240 – 255 250 – 260
Las Cruces 52
Other sites 43 30 20

Gold

000’s ounces 2020 2021 2022
Cobre Panama 120 – 130 125 – 135 135 – 145
Kansanshi 120 – 130 120 – 130 120 – 130
Other sites 40 35 25

Nickel

000’s tonnes 2020 2021 2022
Ravensthorpe  15 – 20 25 – 28 25 – 28

Cash cost and all-in sustaining cost

Copper ($/ lb) 2020 2021 2022
C1 1.20 – 1.40 1.20 – 1.40 1.20 – 1.40
AISC 1.70 – 1.85 1.70 – 1.85 1.70 – 1.85

Production at Ravensthorpe is expected to ramp-up through 2020.  In the first two full years of production, 2021 and 2022, C1 and all-in sustaining cost costs are expected to be between $4.60 – $4.80/lb and $5.10 – $5.40/lb respectively.

Capital expenditure

$ million 2020 2021 2022
Capitalized stripping 250 250 250
Sustaining capital and other projects 600 600 600
Total capital expenditure 850 850 850

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.                
G. Clive Newall
President

For further information visit our website at www.first-quantum.com

North American contact: Lisa Doddridge, Director, Investor Relations
Tel: (416) 361-3752 Toll free: 1 (888) 688-6577
United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, President
Tel: +44 7802 721663
E-Mail: info@fqml.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to the Company’s expectations of production and sales volumes, and expected timing of completion of project development at Enterprise and post completion of construction activity at Cobre Panama and are subject to the impact of ore grades on future production, the potential of production disruptions (including at Cobre Las Cruces as a result of the land slippage in January 2019), capital expenditure and mine production costs, the outcome of mine permitting, other required permitting, the outcome of legal proceedings which involve the Company, information with respect to the future price of copper, gold, silver, nickel, zinc, pyrite, cobalt, iron and sulphuric acid, estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, First Quantum’s exploration and development program, estimated future expenses, exploration and development capital requirements, the Company’s hedging policy, and goals and strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about continuing production at all operating facilities, the price of copper, gold, nickel, zinc, pyrite, cobalt, iron and sulphuric acid, anticipated costs and expenditures and the ability to achieve the Company’s goals. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to, future production volumes and costs, the temporary or permanent closure of uneconomic operations, costs for inputs such as oil, power and sulphur, political stability in Zambia, Peru, Mauritania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Australia, adverse weather conditions in Zambia, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Mauritania and Panama, labour disruptions, potential social and environmental challenges, power supply, mechanical failures, water supply, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, and the production of off-spec material.

See the Company’s Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actual results, performances, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of these factors are beyond First Quantum’s control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.

Source: Globe News Wire

Kansanshi Workers In 7% Pay Rise

Kansanshi Mine PLC has awarded its unionized workers a seven per cent salary increase across the board.

This follows the signing of the 2020 collective agreement with the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ), National Union of Miners and allied workers (NUMAW) and United Mineworkers Unions of Zambia (UMUZ).

NUMAW president James Chansa, who spoke on behalf of other unions, said the negotiations were due to the many challenges in the sector.

Chansa said the unions will work towards ensuring adherence to agreed conditions and further urged workers to continue working hard.

Meanwhile, Kansanshi Mine PLC Human Resource Manager, Maimbo Silimi said the collective agreement includes a seven per cent increase in salaries and an adjustments to the funeral grant, among other conditions.

He said the mining firm has also introduced long service awards for employees reaching five, 10 and 15 years.

Silimi said Kansanshi Mine was cognizant of the importance of its workforce, hence the adjustments to their packages.

©Zambia Reports 2020.

Source: Zambia Reports

Kansanshi Miners in Pay Rise

KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka
UNIONISED workers at Kansanshi Mining Plc have been awarded a seven percent salary increment effective today.
Kansanshi Mining Plc human resources manager Maimbo Silimi said the increment will go a long way in cushioning the cost of living.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Silimi said the increment has been awarded despite the operational challenges affecting the mining firm  CLICK TO READ MORE 

Source: Zambia Daily Mail

Kansanshi Mining Plc Extract from 2019 Annual Report

Kansanshi Mining Plc (KMP) had sales revenue of ZMW18.36 billion (US$1.64 billion) for the financial year ended 31 March 2019 [2018: (ZMW16.08 billion) (US$ 1.68 billion)]. This was
lower by 3% from 2018 reflecting lower copper sales volumes partially offset by higher realized metal prices. Net profit after tax of ZMW3.12 billion (US$278.87 million) was lower than the
ZMW3.93 billion (US$411.52 million) reported in 2018 reflecting lower sales revenues.
Copper production for the financial year ended 31st December 2018 was 251,522 tonnes, slightly higher than 2017 (250,801 tonnes) primarily due to higher throughput and grade on the
sulphide and mixed ore circuits, as well as higher recoveries on the oxide circuit due to higher acid availability from the smelter compared to 2017. No concentrate was processed through
the high-pressure leach due to the processing of tarnished sulphide material.
Gold production was 130,019 ounces, about 8% lower than in 2017 mainly due to lower gold feed grades. Gold plant improvements commenced during the fourth quarter and will continue during the first quarter of 2019.
Cash costs were reduced due to acid sales and there being no major smelter shutdown in 2018, partially offset by higher fuel costs. AISC (All-in Sustaining Cost) of $1.55 per lb. was $0.07 per lb. lower than 2017 reflecting lower C1 cash cost and deferred stripping, partially offset by higher sustaining capital expenditures and royalty costs.
The Kansanshi Smelter achieved record production and throughput in 2018, having treated 1,381,637 DMT (Dry Metric Tonnes) of concentrate, a 14% increase over 2017 exceeding design capacity of 1.2 million DMT. The overall copper recovery rate achieved was 97%. During the year, the smelter processed 11,682 DMT of concentrate purchased from third parties to ensure smelter maintains maximum feed rate and acid production levels during the wet season.
A dividend of ZMW223.8 million (US$ 20 million) was declared for year ended 31 March 2019 [(2018: ZMW745.68 million) (US$78 million)]

Kansanshi Reduces Costs with Linatex

Kansanshi, Africa’s largest copper mine, is located near Solwezi in Zambia. The mine site is very remote, so getting parts and replacement material to site is time consuming and costly.

Of particular concern for the operation was excessive wear in the tailings lines, as well as the overflow tank in the continuous counter-current decantation (CCD) circuit.

There is approximately 8km of tailings pipes running from the plant to the tailings dam. The mine had previously lined its pipes with a combination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners and alumina ceramic tiles. These, however, only achieved a wear life of approximately nine months.

Kansanshi approached Weir Minerals Africa for an alternative solution and the company, which has a long-standing relationship with the mine, specified Linatex premium rubber to line the tailings pipeline. Known for its excellent wet abrasion properties, Linatex rubber also requires a considerably shorter time for lining installation when compared to alumina ceramic tiles.

The lining was completed well within the allotted time, saving Kansanshi unnecessary and costly plant downtime.

After 36 months in operation, the Linatex lining showed minimal signs of wear, and the installation has reduced the mine’s total ownership cost by over R1.6 million (US$107,000) per year.

Kansanshi also needed a more cost-effective wear solution for the overflow tank in the CCD circuit. This had previously been lined with alumina ceramic tiles, which only lasted between 60 and 90 days. The tiles were wearing away quickly due to the high impact and abrasion of the stones and sand flowing through the tank. Wash out between the tiles was preventing the tiles from adhering to the metal substrate and the subsequent damage to the tank required repair work.

In response, the Weir Minerals team specified Linagard nitrile-based rubber (NBR). The expected cost savings from the increased production and reduced maintenance offset the installation costs.

The Weir Minerals technical lining manager was on site for the duration of the tank re-lining to provide technical assistance to Kansanshi’s maintenance team.

Since installation, the Linagard NBR 30 has lasted 36 months without any visible signs of wear. According to Weir Minerals, this represents 18 times longer wear life than the previously installed alumina ceramic tiles and eliminated the need to repair the tank every 2-3 months.

Kansanshi has experienced significantly reduced downtime and increased productivity since the installation of the Linatex solutions, and mine maintenance personnel can focus on other areas of the mine. Weir Minerals stated that the mine’s costs have been reduced by R10.4 million (US$698,000) per year with its Linatex solutions.

 

Kansanshi Flags Off 2019/2020 Farming Season

Kansanshi Mining Plc has flagged off the 2019/2020 farming season by releasing farming inputs to more than 7,400 farmers in Solwezi and the surrounding areas in North-Western Province.

Solwezi District Commissioner Rosemary Kamalonga, who flagged off the 2019/2020 farming season, said government recognized the importance that Kansanshi Mining Plc attached to uplifting people’s living standards.

She said it was relieving to note that Kansanshi Mining Plc, which had trained more than 36,000 farmers under its Conservation Farming Programme, had continued to distribute farming inputs to farmers supported by the mine’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wing.

“Government is happy with its current partnership with Kansanshi Mining Plc in the crusade to improve food security through concerted efforts to ensure that agriculture assumes its rightful position as an alternative to mining and that Solwezi alone can be a food basket for Zambia,” Kamalonga said.

She added that the government equally recognized the mining company’s efforts to meet various community needs and extend social services to the people.

Kamalonga expressed government’s gratitude to what Kansanshi Mining Plc had done to empower residents in Solwezi and surrounding areas.

Kansanshi Foundation Supervisor Maximillian Katanga explained that 12,600 bags each of D Compound, Urea and seed respectively were ready for distribution to local farmers.

“Farmers pay K425 towards the inputs comprising a 50Kg bag of Urea, a 50Kg bag of D Compound and 10Kg bag maize seed to which Kansanshi adds the balance for each farmer so that they can manage to complete one lima of crops. 300 tonnes of lime has also been distributed to farmers, free of charge, with a view to boosting their yields,” explained Katanga.

Solwezi District Agriculture Coordinating Officer (DACO) Muyobo Shimabale also expressed gratitude for being part of the programme and thanked Kansanshi Mining Plc for supplementing what the Ministry of Agriculture was doing.

“I wish to encourage farmers to continue practicing conversation farming as it is in tune with climate change. When conversation farming is practiced, even in low rainfall periods, farmers are able to get the best results,” Shimabale said.

One of the beneficiaries of the farming inputs, Victoria Musumali, who produced 48 bags of maize from one lima during the 2018/2019 farming season, thanked Kansanshi Mine for the input support because she was able to feed her family and sell surplus maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and pay for her children’s school fees, among other needs for the family.

Kansanshi Mine provides training in farming’s best practice to farmers, farming input loans and close monitoring of the farmers’ activities to ensure maximum returns from their farming projects.

The model applied in the farming practices strictly observed sustainable permaculture rotation of maize, soya and groundnuts with minimum tillage, the use of mulch and early planting.

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

Kansanshi smelter exceeds its Q1 target. Owned by ZCCM-IH & FQM

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – First Quantum Minerals has recorded a 39 per cent increase in production at its Sentinel mine in the first quarter of 2018, compared with the same period of last year.

While the company’s Kansanshi smelter at Solwezi exceeded its target for the quarter, with 350,591 tonnes of concentrate processed.
The mining firm has also reported comparative earnings of US$49 million, even after a US$121 million loss realised under a programme to hedge copper sales, for which no tax credit is available.

“We are pleased with the quarter’s results in all aspects of the company. The solid performances at our Zambian operations are of particular note considering the severity of the seasonal rains,” noted FQM Chairman and CEO Philip Pascall, after the company released its first quarter 2018 financial and operating results on Thursday.

In executing several proactive measures to strengthen the balance sheet and improve liquidity, the global mining company FQM  ended the quarter with US$810 million in net unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, US$1,670 million of committed undrawn facilities and in full compliance with all financial covenants.

The mining firm has also put in place a new US$400 million five-year term facility agreement in the subsidiary that owns the Sentinel mine. Repayments are scheduled to start in December 2019.

The mining firm also completed a US$1.85 billion senior note programme, which will be used to repay an existing term loan facility, the outstanding balance on a revolving credit debt facility, fees associated with the offering and for general corporate purposes.

“With the reduction in our copper forward sales contracts, the value of maintaining our capital investment programme through a challenging economic environment is becoming more visible. The significant turnaround in our financial results from a year ago is indicative of First Quantum’s enhanced earnings and cash generating capability. This is expected to grow substantially when Cobre Panama begins commercial operations,” said Mr Pascall, referring to the company’s massive US$5.48 billion Cobre Project in Panama, which will become one of the largest copper mines in the world.

“While we had several successes in the quarter, we also had a few challenges. Such occurrences are not unexpected in the resource industry with the onset of improved commodity prices and sentiment. While this can be momentarily distracting, these matters do get resolved through open discussion and transparency which we are committed to,” Mr. Pascall concluded.

-Ends-

About First Quantum Minerals Ltd
First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a global metals and mining company producing mainly copper, gold, nickel and zinc. The company’s assets are located in Zambia, Spain, Mauritania, Australia, Finland, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Peru.
In 2017, First Quantum produced 573,963 tonnes of copper, 199,736 ounces of gold and 17,837 tonnes of nickel.
In Zambia it operates the Kansanshi mine – the largest copper mine in Africa – and smelter and the Sentinel mine in Kalumbila.
The company is listed on the Lusaka and Toronto stock exchanges.
https://www.first-quantum.com/


Source: LANGMEAD & BAKER