KASENSELI GOLD MINING TAKES OFF

ZCCMIH has started mining and processing alluvial gold ore at Kasenseli Gold Mine after being granted the mining licence last month. In another development, a Zambian-owned company has requested for the partnership in setting up a gold processing plant. ZCCM-IH Public Relations Manager, Loisa Kakoma, said the company anticipated fullscale operations regarding alluvial gold at Kasenseli by the end of this month. Ms Kakoma said Kasenseli was the first project in which ZCCM-IH had partnered with small-scale mining licence holders. She said in an interview yesterday that many other small- scale exploration licence holders had approached ZCCM-IH and the firm intended to extend the same model of operation. "But the strategies being employed depends on what type of licence one has, and to what extent they have gone in developing geological data and any works. She explained that for artisanal miners who have been conducting alluvial mining, the formalisation of their activities is a collaborative effort between Zambia Gold Company Limited (ZGC) and the two ministries - Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. "The role of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is to help the artisanal miners form, register and provide training to cooperatives. The role of Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development is licencing of the cooperatives with gold panning certificates," she said. Ms Kakoma however said ZGC would work with the gold mining cooperatives by providing mechanised micro gold processing and exploratory equipment. ZGC, she said, would also provide technical expertise to ensure responsible and environmentally friendly mining and processing methods, drill water boreholes in areas with water challenges, and conduct exploration for primary gold resources. "Whatever is produced by these cooperatives, will be bought by ZGC," she added. Ms Kakoma said the first areas of operations for the strategy was being rolled out in Rufunsa, Lundazi, Lumezi and Vubwi. "First, ZGC is partnering with existing small scale exploration licence holders who have no capacity to conduct exploration works to estimate the volume, quantity of the resource. If results prove commercial viability, ZGC will then invest to develop the mine and start production and processing. The licence holders are incorporated as equity partners. “Further, for those exploration licence holders who have geological information but have no capacity to develop the mine, ZGC will partner with them and invest to develop the project," she said. Ms Kakoma said ZGC is partnering with small scale mining licence holders to develop the mines by investing capital in machinery for mining and processing. She said the first project was being done at Kasenseli Gold Mine in Mwinilunga district where ZGC had incorporated previous licence holders as shareholders, including the Chief Chibwika Chiefdom Trust. She said ZGC would be responsible for mining and processing of the gold in the mining area. Ms Kakoma said ZGC would also acquire licences to develop its own 100 percent owned gold mines. "The first one is in Rufunsa were an application for an exploration licence has been lodged. The licence area will apportion an area where there are already artisanal gold miners for their activities," he said.