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Zambia's Konkola to launch mine extension in April Live Chat
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Wednesday December 16, 2009 11:40:11 AM GMT
Reuters News
ZAMBIA-MINING/KONKOLA
* KDMP project to produce 180,000 T/yr from 2011
* KCM's output to double to 500,000 T by 2011
LUSAKA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) will in April launch the extension of one of its mines under plans to double annual finished copper output to about 500,000 tonnes by 2011, the mines minister said on Wednesday.
Maxwell Mwale told Reuters that KCM, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc, had invested $1.5 billion in new projects, including the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP), which is expected to extend the mine life of KCM by 23 years.
Mwale said KDPM, which involves deepening one of the shafts to 1,460 metres, is forecast to produce 180,000 tonnes of copper per year when the mine reaches maximum output in 2011.
"The deep mining project will be commissioned in April next year and after that KCM will start ramping up production until they reach full output sometime in 2011," Mwale said.
KCM data shows that Konkola mine has been mined down to 950 metres level at its South number one shaft and 590 metres at the North number three shaft. The mining firm now wants to reach an ore body beneath the one currently being produced.
Mwale said apart from investing in KDMP, part of the $1.5 billion had gone into the construction of a smelter, with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes per year, and the concentrator at Nchanga mine in Chingola
KCM operates the Konkola copper mine, the satellite Fitwaola mine and the Nampundwe pyrite mine.
It has also started reclaiming refractory ores at the Nchanga open pit to produce more copper. (Reporting by Chris Mfula, editing by Anthony Barker)