ZAMBIA UPS COPPER PRODUCTION

ZAMBIA’S Copper production has increased to 342, 734.00 tonnes for the period of January to May 2020 from 330, 023.58 tonnes for the same period during last year.

With this development, Government had projected a positive outlook of the mining sector in the second half of this year, says Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development public relations officer Lucy Shawa

Ms Shawa said in a statement yesterday, there would be significant increase even despite the closure of North-shaft at Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe and the depletion of ore at Chibuluma Mine.

She said Kansanshi Mine copper production increased from 93, 048.55 tonnes between January and May last year to 105, 608.16 tonnes between the same period this year, while Lumwana Mine’s copper production rose from 40, 800.92 tonnes in the first five months of last year to 49, 237.52 between the same period this year.

However, Ms Shawa said Mopani Copper Mines recorded a drop in production from 19, 266.62 tonnes between January and May last year to  11, 446.41 tonnes between the same period this year.

Production at Konkola Copper Mines also dropped from 29, 133.65 tonnes from January to May last year to 25, 428.69 tonnes between the same period this year.

She also said Chibuluma Mine production dropped from 2, 820.11 tonnes last year to 1, 330.57 tonnes this year while CNMC Luanshya production dropped from 22, 677.68 tonnes to 22, 074.09 tonnes.

Ms Shawa said Lubambe’s production dropped from 9, 936.23 tonnes to 8, 965.46 tonnes

Meanwhile, NFCA production increased from 13, 491.16 tonnes to 16, 648.16 tonnes while Sino Metals production increased from 3, 949.83 tonnes to 5, 011.41 tonnes and Kalumbila Metals production increased from 94, 898.03 tonnes to 96, 300.67 tonnes.

She however said the Ministry of Mines had observed an increase in commodity prices on the International market, which had started making positive gains and were expected to do so in the 3rd and 4th quarter of the year.

“The rise in copper prices currently at about $6, 100 per tonne will incentivise the mining companies to increase production output.

On the International scale, the ministry has observed an increase in the production of electric vehicles which rely on copper. Advancement in technology will also lead to increased demand for copper which works to the advantage of Zambia being the second largest copper producer on the continent.

“Further, global demand for electricity is expected to continue which will equally require large quantities of copper,” Ms Shawa said.