Mopani bid to halt ops rejected again
THE appeal by Mopani Copper Mines against the decision by Government to reject the proposal to put its mines on care and maintenance is an academic exercise as the position is final and will not allow the mine to halt operations, says Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Richard Musukwa.
Mr Musukwa said Government had already informed the mining firm that it was against having the planes mines in Mufulira and Kitwe placed under care and maintenance.
The minister said Government understood the direction being undertaken by Mopani to appeal as it was under the Mines and Mineral Development Act.
He said in an interview yesterday that such move was welcome but the government would stand firm on its decision.
Mr Musukwa said Government understood that the country’s economy depends on the mining sector and it would not at any time attempt to allow the mining firm to halt operations of any mine.
Mopani
that it will appeal the decision by Government rejecting its intention to place the mines on care and maintenance barley 24hours after assuring that it would go ahead with production beyond 2020.
The mining firm had written a
memo to workers that it would appeal the decision by Director of Mines Fred Banda rejecting the decision to place mines on care and maintenance.
But Mr Musukwa said Government cannot stop the mining firm from appealing as it was under the law that govern the mines but it would never overturn its decision.
He said that, “We already told the mining firm that we shall not at any time allow any closure of the mine and this is our position which will not be changed. Yes if they want to appeal they can appeal but let me tell you that I have talked to their CEO and I convinced him that the mines cannot be put on care and maintenance.
They are just following such provisions in the Mines and Mineral Act but otherwise we are convinced that they have no credible reasons to close the mines,” Mr Musukwa said.