Message Jeu 26 Juin 2014 22:52

Vedanta Plans $280 Million Zambia Spending, Minister Says

Traduire
Bloomberg News
Vedanta Plans $280 Million Zambia Spending, Minister Says
By Matthew Hill June 26, 2014

Vedanta Resources Plc (VED), the mining company controlled by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, plans to spend $280 million to boost output at its Konkola Copper Mines Plc unit in Zambia, the African nation’s mines minister said.

The expenditure is intended to raise production by more than a third by 2017, from 132,318 tons of copper last year, Christopher Yaluma told lawmakers today. Vedanta also agreed to pay $111 million in outstanding debt at Konkola and provide a $400 million bank guarantee, he said.

Pavan Kaushik, a Vedanta spokesman, and Shapi Shacinda, a Konkola spokesman, didn’t reply to requests for comment outside of normal business hours.
Story: The Russian Forces on Ukraine's Border May Not Be as Formidable as They Look

Relations between foreign mining companies and Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, are under strain as the government revises its mining law. Vedanta’s relationship soured after it said in November it would fire more than 1,500 workers. The country subsequently revoked then-Konkola CEO Kishore Kumar’s work permit.

The situation worsened last month after a video emerged on the Internet showing Agarwal talking about the low price he paid for Konkola and the profits it makes. Vedanta said in a May 16 statement that the comments from a speech in India were presented out of context.

The government conducted an audit of Konkola that found mismanagement and poor corporate governance, Yaluma said today. Vedanta didn’t invest the $375 million it committed to when it bought its Zambian copper operations, the minister said.


Vedanta said in its May statement that Konkola has made $2.3 billion of capital investments in the past nine years while paying $73 million in dividends.

Vedanta Chief Executive Officer Tom Albanese said earlier today that the company is committed to Konkola, which is unprofitable, and to Zambia. Vedanta owns a 79 percent stake in Konkola.

To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Hill in Lusaka at mhill58@bloomberg.net

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-0 ... ister-says