ZCCM-IH recently held a press briefing and media tour of the gold testing and processing laboratory.

The briefing was addressed by ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mabvuto Chipata and Karma Mining Services and Rural Development/Consolidated Gold Company Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Faisal Keer.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Chipata informed the media that ZCCM-IH has embarked on an ambitious investment programme to harness the gold potential in the country as mandated by Government, and that so far the company has started buying gold from artisanal and small-scale gold miners as one of the steps towards the formalisation of gold mining and trading activities.

He announced that ZCCM-IH is offering a competitive price, starting from K550 per gram, and depending on the purity using thorough technical assaying methods, the price may be higher as compared to prices found on the ground.

Mr. Chipata further encouraged anyone with gold to come forward and sell to ZCCM-IH as the company will guide such individuals on how they can regularise their activities so that they are compliant with the relevant regulations.

And speaking earlier Mr. Faisal Keer noted that the lab was critical in the process as it is meant to determine the gold content accurately in the ore that will be received from the various miners, for them to get a fair share and value for their material.

He called upon members of the public to utilise the facility and take their samples for testing.

Consolidated Gold Company of Zambia Limited is a Joint Venture partnership between ZCCM-IH (45%) and Karma Mining Services and Rural Development (55%) with a purpose of developing a gold processing and trading operation in Zambia.