Nampundwe Mine records steady increase in production
KCM general manager for corporate affairs Shapi Shachinda says Nampundwe Mine, a pyrite mine in Shibuyunji district, has steadily increased production since the beginning of the 2020/2021 financial year in April, breaking a decade long production record during the second quarter of the year.
Shachinda said prior to April 2020, the mine was producing around 2,000 tonnes of pyrite per month with the change coming in April and May when it produced over 4,000 tonnes before hitting the 5,000 tonnes mark in June.
Shachinda noted that the Nampundwe pyrite mine had not produced more than 5,000 tonnes of pyrite in the past 10 years.
He said the previous highest monthly production was 4,100 tonnes per month in 2011. Pyrite is a mineral containing Iron and Sulphur, which is used in the process of smelting copper at the Nchanga smelter in Chingola.
Shachinda said at the start of the financial year in April, the business plan was to ramp up production to 4,000 tonnes per month, but the increase in the demand for the commodity at the Nchanga Smelter, and other customers, necessitated a revision of the plan to ramp-up production to 5,500 tonnes per month by October and, 54,247 tonnes for the year.
“In July, the mine produced the record breaker of 5,216 tonnes against a target of 3,997 tonne for the month. The increase in production has been achieved through management’s sustained focus and support to production teams in the last one year, and the support of the hard-working employees,” he added.
Shachinda noted that this performance is the result of the combined teamwork of all Nampundwe employees and contractors, and associated suppliers.
He said the mine is current with payments for labour hire and mining standards are improving, especially available underground ore stocks.
Shachinda also said the mine was in a much better position now since last year, with a sustainable future.
This is according to a statement issued by Victoria Zimba, acting manager public relations and communications
