Works at the manganese mine in Serenje have commenced following the end of the heavy rains that had hampered kick-starting operations, posing a challenge in accessing the mine site areas, the ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) has said.

ZCCM-IH Public Relations Manager Loisa Kakoma reviewed that the company through its wholly-owned subsidiary Kabundi Resources Limited (KRL) is already on-site to commence the initial works of the project.

“We have started the first phase of the project in the small-scale mining license, with an initial capital injection of K18.6 million,” Ms. Kakoma said.

She added: “Phase two of the project which is scheduled to start before the onset of this year’s rainy season will be extended to other areas of the ZCCM-IH Large Scale Exploration area in Serenje.”

Ms. Kakoma also disclosed that ZCCM-IH plans to spend a total of K4.5 million to fulfill the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) obligations, which are scheduled to be handed over to the beneficiaries in June 2020.

“RAP involves the construction of an additional one-by-two classroom block, a health center, nine-by-three bedroomed houses for the relocation of the project affected families, one house for a teacher, and another house for a medical staff,” She added.

She also stated that the RAP project has so far employed over 20 locals and added that KRL will further employ over 150 youths at the mine site as production scales up upon relocation of the affected families.

The ZCCM-IH mouth piece further said: “KRL targets to mine about 60,000 tonnes of manganese by the end of the year during the ramp-up period of operations. Production is targeted to reach 240,000 tonnes of manganese ore annually once commercial production is achieved.”

KRL is a strategic investment aimed at diversifying the commodity mix of the ZCCM-IH’s portfolio which is largely comprised of copper producing assets.

Source: https://www.techwatch.news/zccm-ih-starts-manganese-mining-operations-in-serenje/

Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), the Zambian subsidiary of Glencore, will be resuming mining operations for 90 days, and will be placed on care and maintenance once the 90-day period is up.

The company will remain in discussions with the Zambian government throughout this period as it looks for potential solutions to its current challenges. The company’s statement, released on Sunday, came following constructive talks with Zambian officials.

Initial plans to place Mopani Copper under care and maintenance measures were met with backlash from the government, threatening the company with revoked mining licenses due to a failure to provide a reasonable notice period. The company also allegedly broke labour laws in the country by making workers opt for forced leave whilst ending contracts of mining supplies and services.

Mopani was forecast to produce between 50,000 and 70,000 tons of copper this year, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and decline in the price of copper led to Glencore’s decision to disrupt production. International mobility, transportation and supply chain disruptions have all contributed to Mopani’s situation.

MCM has placed the health and safety of its staff and the surrounding communities as its top priority in its decision making. The company will remain in contact and engage regularly with its employees and relevant contractors, whilst also staying in touch with the local communities. Operations will not restart without the correct consultations taking place between all of these groups.

The closure would potentially affect approximately 11,000 workers, however, these employees would all continue to be paid and receive staff benefits, according to Glencore. The talks between Mopani and the Zambian government will be used to discuss how officials can work with companies to improve the mining sector. Import duties have already been introduced on certain goods that negatively impact copper producers in the country.

Operations originally shut down for Mopani on April 8th, although it continued to process materials it had on-site at its smelter and refinery. A number of projects have been placed on indefinite hold, with key personnel unable to travel and complete commissioning.

Glencore will be cutting capital expenditure by between $1bn and $1.5bn, in a bid to lessen the impact of COVID-19 across its assets. A number of Glencore assets around the world have also seen production curtailed, with the disruption being felt around the world.

Source: https://www.miningglobal.com/mining-sites/glencores-mopani-copper-temporarily-resume-operations

Glencore-managed Mopani Copper Mines confirmed on Sunday that constructive discussions had taken place with the Zambian government and that mining operations would be restarted and a notice issued of the company’s intention to place the mining operations on care and maintenance after 90 days.

During the 90-day period, Mopani would continue to engage with the government on potential solutions to its current challenges, the company said in a media release to Mining Weekly.

The health and safety of the workforce and surrounding communities was the top priority of the company, which would engage with its employees, relevant contractors and local communities regarding the restart of operations.

Mopani stated that it remained committed to supporting its community projects, hospitals and schools.

Mopani, owned 73.1% by Glencore, is an integrated copper producer located near the city of Kitwe, in the Copperbelt.

In its first-quarter report, Glencore stated that Mopani’s first-quarter smelter restart processed 5 000 t of a potential 10 600 t of copper contained concentrates produced, while the smelter underwent a multi-month rebuild.

Last month, Mopani said in a media statement to Mining Weekly that in addition to the impacts of a rapid decline in the copper price, Mopani’s situation had been further impacted by the critical disruptions to international mobility, transportation and supply chains arising from Covid-19.

A number of projects the company was in the process of commissioning have had to be placed on hold until key personnel are able to travel to site.

In the circumstances, and following consultation with its majority shareholder and funder, Mopani said it would be transitioning its mining operations to care and maintenance with effect from 8 April.

Regarding the smelter and refinery, material on site would continue to be processed until further notice.

Mopani said that it believed that the transition to care and maintenance would help to protect its value and preserve the option to deliver growth projects when market conditions improve.

During the care-and-maintenance period, Mopani said it would look to continue to maintain its commitments to the national workforce and host communities.

Mopani would work with the local authorities and community leaders on how best it could continue to support its partners in light of the government decrees relating to minimising the spread of Covid-19.

In April 2000, Mopani purchased assets of the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (ZCCM), made up of underground mines, a concentrator, a smelter and a refinery at Mufulira mine site and underground mines, opencast mines, a concentrator and a cobalt plant at Nkana mine site in Kitwe.

ZCCM-IH  still has a 10% shareholding and First Quantum Minerals a 16.9% shareholding. 

Source: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/mopani-copper-mines-restarting-operations-for-90-days-2020-05-03