Ndola Lime to double production By Business Reporter THE U

[bingogo]

Ndola Lime to double production

By Business Reporter

THE US$74 million recapitalisation programme of Ndola Lime Company (NLC) will increase production capacity of quick lime from the current 400,000 tonnes to 800,000 per annum by 2013, acting general manager Abraham Witika has said.

Mr Witika said the achievement would be met after the full commissioning of the vertical and rotary kilns which would be done in phases.

He said in Ndola that the anticipated increase in production capacity would improve export prospects of lime products to markets such as DR Congo, Angola, Malawi and other regional markets.

“The company has a programme to modernise technology which will improve production capacity to at least 800,000 tonnes per annum,” Mr Witika said.

Ndola Lime Company, once on the privatisation tranche, was sustainable and given the right investment, it would compete favourably and contribute immensely to Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mr Witika, however, noted the company’s production costs were still high because of old technology that would soon be replaced under the recapitalisation programme.

The company’s raw materials were enough and could increase the company’s lifespan to at least 43 years.

Ndola Lime’s production costs ranges between $70 and $100 per tonne but with the introduction of new technology the costs could be brought much lower.

The firm was currently studying the lime deposits in the North-Western Province with a view of tapping it.