Zambia's Vedanta unit boosts power supply at mine

[LesCrozes]

Zambia's Vedanta unit boosts power supply at mine
JOHANNESBURG, June 15 | Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:58am EDT

(Reuters) - Zambia's Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources (VED.L) said on Wednesday it would install three 8 MW generators at its flagship mine to avoid blackouts in case of emergencies.

The generators, to be commissioned this month, will provide a total of 24 MW in back-up power at the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) should the national grid fail to supply enough electricity.

The KDMP is expected to help raise KCM total annual copper production to more than 400,000 tonnes over the next few years.

KCM has invested more than $2 billion in new projects, expansions and upgrades of its assets in the last six years to raise production and extend the life of its mines. (Reporting by Yumna Mohamed)