ISSUE MORE GOLD MINING LICENCES, GOVT URGED

….. as first phase gold project kicks off

NOW that ZCCM-IH has started gold processing, Government must issue more licences to mop up enough resource, says mining expert Edward Simukonda.

Meanwhile, ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Mabvuto Chipata yesterday announced the start of the first phase of the US$3.5 million gold processing project in Rufunsa.

Mr Simukonda said ZCCM-IH which had been given the mandate to buy the resource across the country can only mop enough when more people were able to mine the mineral.

He said in an interview yesterday, time had now come for the country to benefit from the lucrative mineral which could turn around the country’s economic fortunes.

Mr Simukonda said the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, must not relent but ensure that more people were given mining licences for the ZCCM-IH to buy enough gold.

“I am urging Government to consider giving licences to more cooperatives so that the country can mop up enough gold to enable us sell on the international metal market and earn meaningful revenue,” Mr Simukonda said.

ZCCM-IH is undertaking the project in partnership with Consolidated Gold Company Limited (CGCZ).

The first phase involves 10 gold milling plants with a processing capacity of 30 tonnes of ore per day, and a targeted average of 7.5 kilogrammes gold production per month.

And Mr Chipata said ZCCM-IH would officially launch the project by July this year once a few gold ore bars were produced.

He said the project was on course, despite a few delays in bringing in the required equipment from manufacturers outside the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The next stage of the phase is also underway which involves setting up of the gold vat leaching plant in Rufunsa.

“The plant is aimed at chemically processing the gold stock piles from two old gold mines, and concentrates from the gold milling plants,”

Mr Chipata said in a statement yesterday.

CGCZ Chief Executive Officer, Faisal Keer, explained that the business model involved working with various artisanal and small-scale gold miners in providing access to the milling plants, with the view to increase gold production.

“CGCZ is also helping licensed small-scale gold miners with mining technical expertise and safety, and also providing access to earth moving machinery to increase gold ore production that is subsequently processed using the milling plants,” Mr Keer said.