![Avatar de l’utilisateur](./download/file.php?avatar=58_1290869013.jpg)
Administrateur du site
Messages: 4394
Inscription: Jeu 30 Juil 2009 16:48
Localisation: la seyne sur mer
Couts de prod : 0.80 $ / lb
By Times Reporter
KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has contracted U&M Mining of Brazil to enhance output at its Chingola Open Pit operations and double its production target to 500,000 tonnes per annum by the year 2011.
KCM also aims to raise its cobalt output to 5,000 tonnes per annum as a credit from its recently commissioned direct-to-blister 300,000 tonnes-per-annum smelter based in Chingola.
Acting Manager Open Pits, Obino Kalela said under the contract, U&M will mine two areas referred to as COP F & D of the vast Chingola Open Pit over a period of three years.
U&M, a reputable global contractor in mining and construction have carried out mining contracts in Brazil, Spain, Chile and Mexico and construction projects in Spain, Chile, Portugal and Morocco.
Mr Kalela said the open pits had the potential of contributing at least a third to the company’s copper and cobalt output.
“U&M is a mining contractor of international renown, having carried out similar operations across the world over a long period of time. Apart from creating employment, the company is bringing to KCM and Zambia other benefits like increased know-how and world-class competence in open pit operations,” he said.
KCM is aiming to be a 500,000 tonnes per-annum producer at a cost of 80 cents per pound by 2011 and recently launched an aggressive initiative called Tusunge Tubombe or Work to Save to drive this vision.
The Tusunge Tubombe initiative is premised on reduced costs, increased production, safety and security.
“Under the Tubombe Tusunge initiative, KCM is moving towards engaging world-class contractors to develop a world-class operation,” Mr Kalela said.
Zambia produced over 700,000 tonnes per-annum in the 1970s when it was one of the top four copper producers in the world.
The 500,000 target for 2011 would account for just over 50 per cent of the projected national output as Zambia looks to regain its global position after years of falling production.
U&M employs 250 local people and is mining overburden in the same areas of COP F&D down to the 120m bench under an already running contract with Konkola.
Under the new arrangement, the company will mine the entire COP F&D of both waste and copper ore to completion down to 345m bench.
The existing KCM Open Pits team, using selected equipment, will concentrate on mining the Nchanga Open Pit (NOP) which, apart from copper, is currently the company’s main source of cobalt.
KCM is implementing several projects, which it said will improve its output to 500,000 tonnes, half of Zambia’s total planned production by 2011 from the current 200,000 tonnes per year.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s largest cobalt producer, Chambishi Metals is set to resume production at its plant at the beginning of next month, chief executive officer Derek Webbstock has said after suppliers delivered raw materials.
Mr Webbstock said in an interview that the cobalt and copper processing company would not re-open this month as it was awaiting materials from suppliers who had not made any deliveries of concentrates yet.
He said the plant needed sufficient raw materials before commencing production and that it was currently trying to secure this with suppliers.
Mr Webbstock said an initial 300 workers would be re-engaged and that further engagements would depend on the mining industry’s performance.
He said performance of Chambishi Metals would largely depend on the consistent supply of concentrates to the plant.