KCM oct 2016
In a statement issued on Friday by KCM public relations manager Shapi Shacinda, the mine stated that it failed to understand why some senior managers at the company had allegedly complained about the smelter maintenance works when that was normal practice in every operation.
The senior managers had complained that Vedanta Resources was spending US$13 million on maintenance works when it had failed to pay them their September salaries.
“We are not aware of senior management officials who have complained about the USD$13 million spent on maintenance and upgrades at the smelter. The money spent is intended to improve the efficiency, production and KCM cash flow. It is surprising that there are purported complaints against such a noble cause,” stated Shacinda. “We also indicated in the statement released that KCM has employed 700 people on temporary basis for the duration of the planned 40-day shutdown of the smelter for maintenance works and upgrading of a smelter component known at the Electro-Static Precipitator (ESP). About 600 of these people are Zambians and the rest foreign experts engaged to assist with the maintenance works and erection of the ESP. These experts come from countries where KCM originally acquired equipment and parts used to build the Nchanga smelter. KCM has not employed 500 foreigners as reported.”
The Nchanga smelter was commissioned in 2008 as part of the US$3 billion investment in KCM expansions and upgrades since London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc acquired a majority stake in the company.