A New Chinese Mine to Add 40,000 tonnes to Zambia’s Copper Production

A LARGE-SCALE mine which will create 3,000 jobs on the Copperbelt is scheduled to open in Kalulushi with production capacity of about 40,000 tonnes of copper and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt per annum.

Last year, Zambia produced 646,111 tonnes of copper in the first nine months, up from 590,321 tonnes over the same period in 2019.

Owners of the new mine called Zhonghui Mining Industry Limited (ZMIL) are planning to inject US$600 million (K12.6 billion) in the project over a period of five years. ZMIL has acquired a large-scale mining licence and is doing exploration works in Kalulushi’s Ichimpe area.

ZMIL vice-president Brett Wang said in an interview that the mine plans to employ about 1,000 local people in the first phase of the project. Mr Brett said about 3,000 jobs will be created after the company increases production.

This will include indirect jobs because some contractors will be engaged to operate at the mine. He said about 100 local people have been engaged during the ongoing exploration works.

Mr Brett said designing and construction of the mine are likely to start next year.

“This year we are likely to finish exploration works, then we shall move to designing the mine and thereafter begin construction works,” he said. Mr Brett said the mine will be producing 40,000 tonnes of copper and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt per annum once operations are in full swing.

This will increase the number of cobalt mines in Zambia to two after Chambishi Metals also starts operating. “In terms of investments in the mine, Zhonghui Mining Industry Limited has secured US$600 million to inject in the mine over a period of five years,” he said.

Mr Brett said ZMIL has continued to invest in Zambia’s mining and real estate sectors because of the stable socio-economic environment in the country. He said the company further plans to invest in agriculture and other key sectors of the Zambian economy.

Mr Brett said the company is also exploring for gold and silver mining in Mwinilunga district, North-Western Province. “We are also planning to venture into emerald mining and other base metals such as manganese,” he said.

Mr Brett said Zambia’s reputation as a beacon of peace and its historical close ties with China have made it a premier investment destination.