Kansanshi Mining Plc (KMP) had sales revenue of K14.51 billion (US$1.47 billion) (2015: K9.69 billion (US$1.49
billion) for the financial year ended 31st December 2016. Although total copper production was up 20% at 272,843 tonnes (2015: 226,674 tonnes), realised prices were lower than the previous year resulting in a decline in revenue. Gold production was 9% higher at 148,220 ounces (2015: 136,257 ounces) due to higher concentrate production.

Over the next five to six years the Company plans on gradually shifting towards sulphide mining as oxide materials coming out of the mine are reducing. As a result there was need to double the Sulphide ore throughput to sustain current Copper Production levels. If the latter is not done the levels of production would gradually drop from 250,000 tonnes in 2017 to 245,000 tonnes in 2018, then to 240,000 tonnes in 2019, 202,000 in 2020, 174,000 in 2021 and would continue to decline to levels of 50% of current production post 2021.

In this connection, a US$1.5 billion investment in the Company has been envisaged to sustain the said production and significantly improve other facets of mine operations. Additional smelter capacity would in turn be required as the current Smelter capacity would not be able to cater for increased Sulphide concentrate production. High level electricity would have to be supplied to the mine so as to also capacitate the two Smelters. The Company already has grave concerns over the security of power supply from ZESCO. Since the reduction of power supply from 200 megawatts to 165 megawatts, parts of the business had to be shut down such as the High Pressure Leach system which was still not operating.

The profit for the year 2016 was K1, 248.3 million (US$126.5 million) (2015: loss of K9.11million (US$1.4 million) and had been added to the retained earnings to contribute towards raising the US$1.5 billion required for capital projects.

No dividends were paid during the year ended 31 December 2016 (2015: K52.04 million (US$ 8 million).