Mindola, Central shafts viable, says Musukwa

THE North and Central shafts which have been shut down by Mopani Copper Mine still have economic value, Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Richard Musukwa has said.

THENorth and Central shafts which have been shut down by Mopani Copper Mines still have economic value, Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Richard Musukwa has said.

And Eurasian Resources Group and China Non-Ferrous Metals has expressed interest in buying Konkola Copper Mines, should the Zambian government succeed in seizing it from Vedanta Resources.

Mr Musukwa told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday the preliminary report by mining engineers, geologists and metallurgists indicated that the two underground mines still had long lives and economic value.

He said the report showed that the shafts were viable but needed ways to revamp the operations.

“Recently, I sent a team of geologists, metallurgists and mining experts to find out about the two shafts. And the preliminary report has showed that the two shafts still have a long life and can be operated,” Mr Musukwa said.

Recently, Mopani Copper Mine management said that the two shafts had been closed because they had no economic value.

The management indicated that the mining firm could not continue operating the two shafts because they were not economically viable.

The National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) had urged Government to send experts to verify claims by Mopani that both shafts did not have economic value.

NUMAW president James Chansa said the experts should ascertain the lifespan of the North and Central shafts to find out whether the claims by the mine were true.

Mr Chansa told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that Government should get full information on what was happening at the two shafts Mopani had abandoned.

He said it was important that Government knew the truth.

Mr Chansa said it was possible that the mining firm did not have the capacity to run the two shafts.

And Mr Musukwa says Government is dicussing with Mopani to find an amicable way to revamp the two shafts.

He said Government should protect the jobs of the Zambian miners by ensuring that the two projects were operationalised.

Meanwhile people close to the Eurasian Resources, owned by three Kazakh billionaires, approached the government about two months ago.

CNMC also wanted to buy the assets, they said.

The Chinese company offered to spend $2.5 billion on development, the sources revealed.

State-owned ZCCM Investments Holdings, which owns 20.6 percent of KCM, asked the Lusaka High Court on May 20 to liquidate the company because it had not met the conditions of its license.

The case, which is being challenged by Vedanta, was postponed to 4 June.

Recently, I sent a team of geologists, metallurgists and mining experts to find out about the two shafts. And the preliminary report has showed that the two shafts still have a long life and can be operated,” — Mr Musukwa.