Copper production improves
By BUSINESS REPORTER
THE mining industry produced 200, 000 tonnes of copper during the first quarter of 2018, representing an improvement from last year during the same period.
This is according to the Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM).
=CM Chief (xecutive 2fficer, 6okwani Chilembo, said the 200, 000 tonnes produced was slightly higher than the amount produced last year during the same period.
Mr Chilembo attributed the increase to improved operational performance by big mines such as the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).
“We produced 200,000 metric tonnes of copper in the first quarter of this year, so we improved on last year overall and we hope that we will grow further. The increase is due to improved operational performing for some of the big mining companies like KCM,” he said.
He was speaking in an interview with the
Daily Nation.
7he second quarter of this year, Mr Chilembo said, was expected to improve with some new producers coming on board over the next months.
When asked on the outlook for the sector for this year, Mr Chilembo said: “it is stable but obviously we have to engage with Government to ensure that we underpin growth.
“The stability is due to a good price going forward and the perceived stability in the fiscal regime, which we are using to secure our operations and plan going forward, so that is what we are looking for,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chilembo called for the improvement of the Tanzania Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) operations to enable the industry utilise rail for cargo movement.
“The industry is moving at a discount to road and definitely what we would like to see acceleration of the railway industry’s capacity to take more of our freight at a discount to road.
“Dar-es-salaam is doing very well, we are trying to see if we can put more on that route [TAZARA] but it is up to the two railway companies to meet the challenge. That is a viable channel let them expand and work on it,” he said.