Baluba Mine reopening, says Mayor
THE reopening of Baluba Mine is a major milestone for the people of Luanshya especially those that were put on forced leave after it was placed under care and maintenance, says Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda.
Mr Chanda said the mine, being the largest private sector employer in the district played a major role in the social and economic development of the town and remained a strategic partner of the local authority.
The Chinese-owned China Nonferrous Mining Corporation (CNMC) Luanshya Copper Mine’s Baluba Underground operation was in 2015 closed and placed under care and maintenance, and over 1, 640 workers were sent home.
Mr Chanda said he was pleased with the Baluba Mine’s plans to resume production this year.
The mayor was speaking during a meeting with the CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine deputy chief ex- ecutive officer, Mr Wang Jingjun at the mine’s head office in Luanshya yesterday.
Mr Chanda called on CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines to support local suppliers and contractors once Baluba opens and also employ as many local people as possible.
He thanked the mine for its continued support towards the community through the various ventures such as the agricultural support programme where CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine had been donating farming inputs to the vulnerable but viable smallscale farmers in the district.
The mayor also proposed to management to come up with incentives such awards meant to promoting cleanliness of the town and workers’ residential areas. Mr Wang said US$13 million would be pumped into the reopening of Baluba Mine.
Mr Wang said his company was looking forward to reopen Baluba Mine after the increase in copper prices on the world market.