Zambia's largest cobalt producer resumes output Sat Nov 7, 2

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Zambia's largest cobalt producer resumes output
Sat Nov 7, 2009 10:15am GMT

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LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's largest cobalt producer, Chambishi Metals Plc has restarted production after suppliers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) delivered cobalt concentrates needed to resume output, the firm said on Saturday.

"We finally restarted the processing of cobalt concentrates late on Thursday and we have employed about 300 workers," Chief Executive Officer, Derek Webbstock told Reuters.

Operations at Chambishi were suspended last December and placed on care and maintenance due to losses the company suffered owing to the global economic slowdown.

The resumption of output at the plant had already been held back several times.

Chambishi had forecast output at 3,400 tonnes of cobalt in 2009 from 2,500 tonnes in 2008 before it suspended operations.

Webbstock said the company would start processing copper concentrates after China Nonferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNMC) unit, Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) restarted output.

Chambishi had forecast B-grade copper output of 20,000 tonnes in 2009.

Chambishi, which was previously owned by LCM, a joint venture of Bein Stein Group Resources (BSGR) and International Mineral Resources (IMR), is now owned by Enya Holdings of the United Kingdom