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Industry News, ZCCM-IH News

Zambia’s copper output increases amid foreign debt default

Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper miner, produced 646,111 tonnes of the metal in the first nine months of 2020, up from 590,321 tonnes in the same period last year, official figures show.

The country’s mines and minerals ministry attributed the 9.45% rise to increased mine output. He said the in southern African nation now expects total production for the year to reach 820,000 tonnes, driven by rising copper prices.

This comes as good news to Zambia, which missed a $42.5 million interest payment on part of its international debt last week, becoming Africa’s first bond default during the coronavirus pandemic.

ZAMBIA’S MINING ASSETS HAVE BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE COUNTRY’S FINANCIAL SITUATION DETERIORATED THIS YEAR AND THE PANDEMIC PROMPTED GLENCORE TO SHUT ITS MOPANI COPPER MINES

Pesident Edgar Lungu’s government, which is battling for re-election next year, has blamed covid-19 for problems managing the country’s $12 billion debt.

While it seeks a compromise with bondholders, the government has announced it has no plans to sell its shares in mining companies it has stakes in to raise cash.

Zambia’s mining assets have been in the spotlight as the country’s financial situation deteriorated this year and the pandemic prompted Glencore (LON: GLEN), one of the biggest miners operating in the country, to shut its Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).

The move angered the government, which threatened to revoke Mopani’s mining licenses and temporarily blocked its chief executive officer Nathan Bullock from leaving the country. 

Glencore reacted by putting its 73.1% stake in the operation on the table, hoping to reach a deal with authorities.

No plans to sell mining stakes

Zambia said earlier this week that negotiations with Glencore about increasing the government’s stake in Mopani were nearing a conclusion, although no information about the size of the stake that state-owned ZCCM Investments Holdings is trying to acquire was given.

The government, which was in arbitration over mining assets it seized last year from billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources, lost an important battle in the case on Friday.

A local court ordered a halt to liquidation proceedings KCM to allow owners Vedanta and ZCCM-IH to proceed to arbitration.

The ruling hands a significant win to Vedanta, which is seeking the removal of the liquidator appointed by ZCCM-IH — which owns 20% of KCM on the government’s behalf — to run the company.

Other copper miners have halted $2 billion of planned investments because of a dispute over royalty taxes.

Zambia has promised to address the issue at a mining conference later this year.

– With files from Reuters and Bloomberg

Source: Mining.com
Industry News, ZCCM-IH, ZCCM-IH News

Zambia: government wants to complete buyout of Glencore’s stake in Mopani Copper Mines within a month

(Ecofin Agency) – Zambia is expected to complete a majority stake in Switzerland’s local subsidiary Glencore, which owns various copper mines in the country, within a month. According to the Minister of Mines, financing will not be a problem, despite the current state of public finances.

In Zambia, Glencore could soon cede to the state all or part of its interest (73.1%) in Mopani Copper Mines, a local subsidiary active in the copper mines of the Swiss commodities giant. At least that is what emerges from the words of Barnaby Mulenga (photo), permanent secretary at the Zambian Ministry of Mines, who foresees the end of the negotiations within a month, without specifying the importance of the participation that the national company ZCCM Investments Holdings is trying to acquire.

If the country has been in “payment default” for several weeks, according to the rating agency S&P, raising the necessary funds for the operation does not appear to be a problem. However, we learn, the funding will not come from the public treasury.

“The resource attracts money, so the question of financing is the last worry for the Zambian government,” Mulenga told Bloomberg as Glencore valued the various operations at $ 704 million.

As a reminder, the decision to acquire a majority stake in Mopani Copper Mines came earlier this year, after tensions with Glencore. The company wanted to put its mines on a maintenance and upkeep regime, against the advice of the government, which currently holds only 10% interest through ZCCM-IH, the rest belonging to First Quantum Minerals.

Source: Agence Ecofin
Investee Companies, Investee Company News

Zambia Sees Deal With Glencore Over Mopani Within a Month

(Bloomberg) — Zambia expects to conclude talks over buying Glencore Plc’s stake in Mopani Copper Mines Plc within a month, according to Barnaby Mulenga, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines.

Mulenga declined to disclose the size of the stake that state-owned ZCCM Investments Holdings is trying to acquire. ZCCM-IH currently has 10% of Mopani, with Glencore holding 73.1% and Vancouver-based First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 16.9%.

Zambia wants to raise its holding after clashing with Glencore earlier this year over the company’s plan to mothball Mopani’s operations. But it’s unclear how the cash-strapped government, which last week defaulted on a Eurobond interest payment, would finance a deal. While impairments of $1.14 billion at Mopani contributed to Glencore posting a first-half loss, the Switzerland-based commodity giant still assigned a value of $704 million to the operations.

Mulenga expects a deal to be announced in the coming weeks by Mines Minister Richard Musukwa, who said in September that both companies were prepared to sell their entire holding in Mopani. Zambia won’t have trouble raising finance for the deal, according to Mulenga, even though no money will come from the Treasury.

Zambia Says Glencore, First Quantum Willing to Sell Mopani

“The resource attracts money, so the issue of financing is the least of the worries for the Zambian government,” Mulenga said in an interview on Thursday, referring to Mopani’s copper-mining operations. He didn’t give further details.

A spokesman for Glencore declined to comment. First Quantum spokesman John Gladston also declined to comment.

Mining Disputes

Glencore shelved its plans to place the operations under care and maintenance for 90 days, after Zambia threatened to revoke its mining license in April. The government strategy is driven by a need to safeguard jobs at Mopani, rather than any desire to raise its shareholding, said Mulenga.

Zambia’s increasingly tense relations with investors in the key copper-mining industry may partly reflect maneuvering by President Edgar Lungu ahead of next year’s elections. The government is also in arbitration over mining assets it seized last year from billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources Ltd.

Other copper miners have halted $2 billion of planned investments because of a dispute over a royalty tax. A mining conference later this year will seek to address that issue, Mulenga said.

Zambia, Africa’s No. 2 copper producer, relies on the metal for about 70% of its export earnings. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is forecast to cut output this year to about 764,188 tons, far short of the nation’s target of 1 million tons, according to Zambia Chamber of Mines.

“Hopefully we will come to some consensus to what should this tax regime look like,” Mulenga said.

(Updates with copper output in penultimate paragraph)

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Source: Swissinfo.ch
Investee Companies, Investee Company News

KCM dispute to go to arbitration

Zambia’s Court of Appeal has ruled that Vedanta can proceed to arbitration with state mining firm ZCCM, in a dispute over the Indian mining major’s copper assets in the central south African nation.

Vedanta’s 79.4% owned Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Zambia were seized and ordered to be liqudated in May 2019 over alleged mismanagement.
The assets at the heart of dispute are KCM’s Nchanga copper smelter, the largest in Zambia, and the Konkola and Nchanga mines.

The Indian mining giant has invested more than $3 billion in the asset since acquiring it from Anglo American in 2004, according to Vedanta’s website. The remaining stake is held by ZCCM.
KCM’s provisional liquidator, Zambian lawyer Milingo Lungo, said the latest court ruling, in Ndola on November 20, will let the parties proceed to arbitration to settle the dispute.
During the arbitration process, Lungo will remain in control of KCM operations as mandated by the Zambian High Court in May 2019.

In November 2019, Lungo told Fastmarkets that the best option was to increase the value of the disputed KCM assets and ready them for a new owner.
But the latest ruling comes at a time when Covid-19 uncertanties are making it more difficult for major miners and smelters around the world to attract investors to buy assets or to help with developmental and operational costs.

The Zambian government previously approached different parties, including China Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Group (CNMC) over sale of KCM’s operations. However, legal risks, existing debts and operational issues have made KCM sale difficult.

When the Zambian government originally filed the liquidation order in May 2019, it sent shockwaves through the Zambian copper industry.

Liquidator Lungu said Vedanta’s deferral of a service fee payment to contractors and staff had led to output disruptions and that had prompted the government to step in at Nchanga and Konkola.
Since the liquidation order, Vedanta has been actively defending its rights under international law to proceed into arbitration with the Zambian state mining firm.

Zambia is the second-largest copper producing country in Africa and its copper exports are a major source of foreign income. One of its biggest export category is intermediate copper products – blister copper and anodes.

Fastmarkets’ spot refining charge (RC) for 98-99% blister copper on a cif China basis, stood ta $150-160 per tonne at the end of last month.
Julian Luk

Source: Zambia Watchdog
Investee Companies, Investee Company News, Uncategorized, ZCCM-IH, ZCCM-IH News

Why ZCCM IH cautionary notice on KCM is timely

ZCCM IH recently informed the market on the outcome of the tribunal proceedings which sought to determine whether the Provisional Liquidator at KCM would continue in office or not following Vedanta Resource Limited and Vedanta Resources Holdings Limited pursuing the matter. The ruling was in favor of ZCCM IH by way of the arbitrator dismissing the application by the Vedanta Group.

“In compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act No. 41 of 2016, shareholders are informed that on 23 March 2020, the tribunal appointed in arbitration proceedings commenced by Vedanta against ZCCM-IH dismissed an application by Vedanta for an interim measure requiring ZCCM-IH to withdraw the Petition and procure the removal of the Provisional Liquidator from office”, read a statement issued by ZCCM IH’s Company Secretary Chabby Chabala on 10th November 2020 in Lusaka.

Under the section relating to consideration of applications for proposed take-overs and mergers in the Securities Act of 2016, section 134(4)(b), which states that the disclosure of timely and adequate information to enable shareholders to make an informed decision as to the merits of an offer, ZCCM IH was compelled to provide this timely update to investors.

The market has been waiting patiently for the announcement of this particular outcome. Part of the composition of the market is potential investors who, among other things, consider all matters of concern such as environmental and internal factors.

With knowledge on the outcome of know environmental factors, the investment decision is influenced. In the case of KCM, the proceedings with the arbitrator placed a pebble in the timeline for an investor decision to be made. Hence, clarity in the matter now paves the way for an astute investment decision to be made going forward.

However, matters outside the control of either party involved in this particular case is Country Risk. At the moment, many investors have been following with intent the issue of the Ministry of Finance’s deliberations with Euro Bondholders and Chinese Lenders. The outcome of these discussions has never been more important in the investment journey of Zambia.

Fitch, Moodys, and S&P credit rating agencies all place Zambia’s credit rating as a country with substantial risks. Some of these risks include the risk of default. Until recently, the Ministry of Finance has been in discourse with Bondholders and Chinese lenders for a possible moratorium of facilities following the Covid 19 pandemic. Zambia is not the only country to engage its lenders in such a manner. Argentina and Mozambique also engaged the services of Lazard, a world-leading financial advisory and asset management firm, to aid in restructuring conversations that would also involve difficult discussions with lenders.

With a myriad of environmental factors, mostly weighted towards those that are not within the investment entity’s control, investors will be watching very closely with sand in their hour glasses before investment decisions can be made.

Source: Financial Insights 
Industry News, ZCCM-IH News

ZCCM IH Further Cautionary Announcement relating to KCM

Finance, ZCCM-Investment Holdings Plc

Written by 

Shareholders of ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (“ZCCM-IH”) are referred to the announcements dated 23 May 2019, concerning the filing by ZCCM-IH of a petition in the High Court of Zambia for the winding up of Konkola Copper Mines PLC (“KCM”) on 21 May 2019 (the “Petition”), the appointment by the Court of Mr Milingo Lungu as provisional liquidator of KCM (the “Provisional Liquidator”) and the legal proceedings commenced in the High Court of South Africa and applications made to the Zambian High Court by Vedanta Resources Limited and Vedanta Resources Holdings Limited (together “Vedanta”).

In compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act No. 41 of 2016, shareholders are informed that on 23 March 2020, the tribunal appointed in arbitration proceedings commenced by Vedanta against ZCCM-IH dismissed an application by Vedanta for an interim measure requiring ZCCM-IH to withdraw the Petition and procure the removal of the Provisional Liquidator from office.
ZCCM-IH will provide details of these proceedings in due course.

In the meantime, Shareholders of ZCCM-IH are advised to exercise caution when dealing in securities of the Company until further information is published.

By Order of the Board
Chabby Chabala
Company Secretary

Source: Financial Insight
Annual Report Summaries, Investee Companies

Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL) Extract from 2020 Annual Report

Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL) reported total revenue of ZMW4,392.69 million (US$ 235,781million) for the period under review [2019: ZMW2,140.07 million (US$160.97 million)] and had profit after tax of ZMW1,466.08 million (US$78.69 million), [(2019: ZMW601.06 million (US$45.12 million)].  

During the period under review, MCL continued to experience liquidity challenges because of late receipts of payments from ZESCO. Due to liquidity constraints, the company was negatively impacted on its ability to undertake repairs and proactive maintenance of the Thermal Power Plant. Consequently, the company shut-down one of its two plants temporary during the period under review. Power production was thus negatively impacted due to lower plant availability. However, MCL recorded higher profits during the year under review because MCL recorded a net tax credit of US$2.31 million compared to net tax expenses of US$45.00 million in 2019.  

However, it is expected that the company will have a positive outlook in the medium to long-term once the issue 

of non-receipt of payments from ZESCO is resolved.  

There were no dividends declared during the year under review (31 Dec 2019: Nil).  
Archived Jobs, Investee Companies

APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT AS ZCCM-IH’S REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS ON BOARDS OF INVESTEE COMPANIES

 ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc.

ZCCM Investments Holdings plc (ZCCM-IH or the Company) is an investments holdings company with a primary listing on the Lusaka Securities Exchange and secondary listings on the London and Euronext (Paris) Stock Exchanges. The Company has the majority of its investments held in the copper mining sector of Zambia. ZCCM-IH’s shareholders are the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) holding 60.3% of the shares, Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) with 17.3%, National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) holding 15% and private investors holding the remaining 7.4%.

ZCCM-IH holds equity investments ranging from 10% to 100% in 22 companies in Zambia. The Company is entitled to appoint persons to the Boards of the companies in which it holds shares (Investee Companies) as indicated below:

Count Investee Company Shareholding percentage No. of Board seats for ZCCM-IH
1. Chambishi Metals Plc 10.0 1
2. Mopani Copper Mines Plc 10.0 1
3. NFCA Africa Mining Plc 15.0 1
4. Chibuluma Mines Plc 15.0 1
5. Copper Tree Minerals Limited 15.6 1
6. CNMC Luanshya Copper Mines Plc 20.0 2
7. Kansanshi Mining Plc 20.0 2
8. Lubambe Copper Mine Plc 20.0 1
9. Konkola Copper Mines Plc 20.6 2
10. Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc 24.1 2
11. Maamba Collieries Limited 35 2
12. Consolidated Gold Company Ltd 45.0 2
13. Central African Cement Ltd 49.0 2
14. Rembrandt Properties Ltd 49.0 2
15. Zambia Gold Company Ltd 51.0 2
16. Investrust Bank Plc 71.4 6
17. Limestone Resources Ltd 100.0 4
18. Misenge Environmental and Technical Services Ltd 100.0 4
19. Kariba Minerals Ltd 100.0 4
20. Kabundi Resources Ltd 100.0 3
21. Mushe Milling Ltd 100.0 3

ZCCM-IH has, available for immediate occupation, non-executive Board seats in majority of its Investee Companies. The Company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced professionals and business practitioners to be considered for appointment as non-executive Representative Directors of ZCCM-IH on Investee Companies.
Summary of Duties and Obligations of Representative Directors

  1. The Representative Directors will be expected to exercise their business judgement to act in what they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of the Investee Company and ZCCM-IH and specifically to ensure ZCCM-IH’s investment value is enhanced and protected.
  2. In discharging this duty and obligation, the Representative Directors will be expected to rely on the honesty and integrity of the Company’s senior executives, its outside advisors, auditors and also on their own experience and analysis of core business.
  3. Representative Directors will be expected to attend Board and Committee meetings and to spend the necessary time needed to discharge their responsibilities. The Representative Directors will be expected to cause the receipt of the Board Packs in due time before the date of the meetings to facilitate adequate preparation.
  4. The Representative Directors will submit reports of the meetings and events attended pertaining to the Investee Company, highlighting the critical issues, outcomes, resolutions and any proposals deemed necessary.

Qualifications, Experience and General Competences of Representative Directors

The requirements for one to be considered for appointment as a Representative Director include the following:

  1. At least an undergraduate degree or equivalent from a respected university/qualifications body. A post graduate qualification will be an added advantage.
  2. These educational criteria will not exclude exceptional candidates who do not meet them but have other demonstrated capabilities such as setting up and running successful companies of their own or other visible accomplishments which will add great value to ZCCM-IH;
  3. Over seven years extensive business management experience at a senior level such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer or such other senior levels.
  4. Exposure in an international environment will be an added advantage;
  5. Ability to read, understand and offer suggestions and comments on financial statements;
  6. Demonstrate competences in strategic planning and business leadership;
  7. Self-starter with visible leadership skills and the ability to be persuasive and persevering under, sometimes, trying circumstances;
  8. Knowledge of the mining sector will be an added advantage;
  9. Have no material relationship and or conflict of interest with the Company or any of its Investee Companies;
  10. Sufficient applicable experience to understand fully the legal and other responsibilities of an independent director of a company based in Zambia.

Suitably qualified women candidates are urged to apply as due consideration will be given to them in an effort to improve representation of women on the Boards.

Duration of appointment and remuneration
The appointment will be for a period of three years. Continued representation will purely be based on results of the annual assessments of performance of the Representative Director against goals and objectives agreed with ZCCM-IH.
The Representative Director will be remunerated according to the fee structure existing at the Investee Company on whose Board he/she is appointed.

Submission of applications
Interested professionals and business practitioners should submit signed applications with detailed curriculum vitae indicating contact telephone number or e-mail address, together with names and contact address of three traceable referees and copies of educational and professional qualifications to the underlisted on or before 25/11/2020.
The Company Secretary

ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc
ZCCM-IH Office Park
Stand No. 16806, Alick Nkhata Road – Mass Media
P.O BOX 30048
Lusaka

Phone:3888000
Email:corporate@zccmnew.wpenginepowered.com
Website: www.zccmnew.wpenginepowered.com

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APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT AS ZCCM-IH’S REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS ON BOARDS OF INVESTEE COMPANIES

Corporate Social Investment, Industry News

ZCCM-IH Meets its Resettlement Action Plan Obligations in Kampumbu, Serenje

ZCCM-IH through its wholly owned manganese mine Kabundi Resources Limited (KRL) on 7th November 2020 handed over various infrastructure and items to fulfil its Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) obligations.

Valued at K4.5 million, the items and infrastructure handed over included:

  • Nine-by-three bedroomed houses for the relocation of the Project Affected families in Kampumbu Resettlement area;
  • Tools and farming inputs to accompany each house handed over;
  • Monetary compensation for three of the eleven families relocated that opted to receive cash rather than one of the three bedroomed houses constructed;
  • A new rural health centre and a house for a medical staff at Kampumbu; and
  • An additional one-by-two classroom block at Kampumbu Primary School, as well as teacher’s house.

The event was graced by the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Hon. Richard Musukwa, whom was accompanied by Serenje Member of Parliament Hon. Maxwell Kabanda, Central Province Permanent Secretary Mr. Bernard Chomba, Serenje District Commissioner and Council Mayor, as well as various senior government officials. Also in attendance were the ZCCM-IH CEO, and several ZCCM-IH Board of Directors.
ZCCM-IH, ZCCM-IH News

FQM posts 211,000 tonnes of copper production in the third quarter

FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) Limited posted record quarterly copper production of over 211,000 metric tonnes in the third quarter of this year, up 10% from the same period last year, mainly driven by its unit Sentinel mining company based in Kalumbila.

And the FQM says it is working to manage the logistical challenges posed by closing trade borders in response to the coronavirus pandemic using other avenues where possible.

In a statement announcing its financial results for the third quarter of 2020, the FQM posted a total of 211,396 tonnes of copper during the period ending September 30, up from 192,510 tonnes produced during the period. corresponding last year, mainly driven by the increase in productive production at the Sentinel copper mine, among other units.

“211,396 tonnes of total copper production in the quarter, up 10% from the same period in 2019, due to record production at Sentinel and Cobre Panama. Sentinel performed exceptionally well during the quarter, achieving its strongest quarterly production on record of 70,829 tonnes and record cash costs. Increased throughput and rising grades resulted in a 25% increase in copper production compared to the same period in 2019, while lower maintenance costs, lower fuel prices and depreciation of currency have resulted in improved unit costs, ”the FQM said in a statement.

“Performance at Cobre Panama was strong as it went from preservation and safety maintenance in July to full production levels in August, slightly above expectations. Copper production during the quarter amounted to 62,055 tonnes, which is significantly higher than the same period in 2019. Kansanshi performed steadily during the quarter. Copper production of 54,430 tonnes was slightly lower than in the third quarter of 2019 due to lower grades and recoveries despite increased throughput. Treasury costs were lower due to currency depreciation and lower fuel costs. Production forecasts for 2020 have been updated. Total copper production forecast for 2020 has been increased to between 750,000 and 785,000 tonnes; gold production is now expected to be between 245,000 and 260,000 ounces and the forecast for nickel production has been reduced to 13,000 – 15,000 tonnes.

In contrast, sales revenue jumped 42% to over US $ 1.4 billion in the period ending September 30 from the corresponding period a year earlier, in part due to the increase in sales volumes of its Solwezi-based kansanshi Mining unit.

“Sales revenue for the quarter of $ 1,402 million, up 42% from the comparable period of 2019, was primarily attributable to Cobre Panama’s commercial copper and gold sales volumes,”

volumes in Kansanshi and higher metal prices, ”he said.

And the FQM said it was working to manage the logistical challenges posed by closing trade borders in response to the coronavirus pandemic using other avenues when possible.

“COVID-19 has had a direct impact in Cobre Panama where the operation was placed on preservation and security maintenance from April 7, 2020, following the Panamanian government restrictions related to COVID-19. The company’s other operations have not been significantly affected by the restrictions stemming from COVID-19. The company has not experienced any significant disruption to supply chains and product shipments since the start of the pandemic. The company is working to manage the logistical challenges of closing trade borders, using alternate routes where possible. The border restrictions, if ongoing, could cause delays in the supply chain, ”said the FQM.

Source: Tradings At