Limestone Resources Limited, formerly known as Ndola Lime Company, is specializing in the production and supply of limestone products. Its diverse product line-up includes quicklime, hydrated lime, and other lime product tailored to meet specific customer needs.  

The transition from Ndola Lime Company to Limestone Resources Limited represents a strategic move to address past challenges and leverage on new opportunities. This change signals an intent to revitalize the business, possibly by attracting new investment, improving operational efficiencies, and better aligning with market demands. Limestone Resources Limited’s journey reflects a commitment to not only continuing its legacy of quality limestone product supply but also enhancing its operational and financial health for future success.  

Limestone Resources Limited has an opportunity to attract fresh capital, revamp the business, and potentially cut the losses experienced by its predecessor, Ndola Limestone.  

During 2023, LRL continued to build up on the knowledge and experience of operating the modified VK2 which was fired in October 2022 after nearly 6 years of being idle. The modification and the prolonged idle time presented initial challenges which took time to resolve. VK 2 was the only operational kiln at the company as no restoration repair works were carried out on VK1, while the Rotary kiln remained mothballed.  

Production from VK2 was an average of 140 tonnes per day against the kiln’s capacity of 500 tonnes per day due to technical limitations on the kiln’s operating mode. Another key stumbling block to attain nameplate capacity was a lack of reliable mining equipment and a frequently malfunctioning crushing plant.  

Revenue for the year was ZMW96.7 million, a notable increase from ZMW26.8 million in 2022. The company made a loss of ZMW180.74 million (2022: ZMW90.81 million).  

There were no dividends declared during the year under review (Dec 2022: Nil) 

Limestone Resources Limited (LRL) was barely operational for the most part of the year as both primary kilns (VK1 and VK2) were not functional. The collapse of refractory bricks on VK1 in 2021 had not yet been resolved while the historical fuel system challenges on VK2 were only resolved in July 2022. These works included multiple modifications to have the kiln operate using coal as the fuel, a much cheaper commodity than Heavy Fuel Oil in the original design.  

ZCCM-IH provided working capital funding to ignite and commission the kiln in August 2022 and the Kiln was fired up in September 2022. Even though the kiln is operational, it takes several months to attain stability in quality and production as different operating parameters are monitored and observed, and adjustments made accordingly. Further, LRL was not adequately capitalised for a long time and therefore continued to experience underperformance of its operating plant and equipment.  

ZCCM-IH continued to support the Company for its turnaround strategies.  

As a result of only being productive for the last 3 months of the year, LRL’s performance was substantially impacted, recording revenue of only ZMW26.8 million (2021: ZMW 119 million). The loss for the year was ZMW90.78 million (2021: ZMW39.7 million).  

There were no dividends declared during the period under review (December 2021: Nil)

2021 was the first full calendar year of operations for Limestone Resources Limited (LRL), which only commenced operations on 1 September 2020 after transitioning from Ndola Lime Company Limited (NLC). NLC, remains under liquidation. 

As at December 2021, LRL was yet to be capitalised as ZCCM-IH was still running the process of engaging an equity partner with whom a long-term strategic plan for the Company would be developed. 

The lack of adequate capital posed a challenge and the Company underachieved across all performance metrics as production fell substantially below installed capacity due to reliability issues with the plant and equipment. Total sales revenue for the year was recorded at ZMW119.00 million (2020: ZMW34.76 million). The loss over the same period was ZMW39.78 million (2020: ZMW3.71 million). 

On 17 October 2021, LRL’s only functioning Kiln (VK1) experienced a collapse of its refractory bricks, leading to a halt in quicklime production. Since then, no production has been going on at LRL, pending financial resources for repair and maintenance works. 

ZCCM-IH has prioritized the selection and engagement process of an equity partner and is optimistic of completing the process within the first half of 2022 to ensure full recapitalisation of LRL that will substantially improve operational and financial performance. 

There were no dividends declared during the period under review (December 2020: Nil) 

Limestone Resources Limited (LRL) commenced operations on 1st September 2020 transitioning from Ndola Lime Company Limited (NLC). Limestone Resources Limited (LRL) reported total revenues for the financial year ended 31st December 2020 of ZMW 34.76 million and a loss after tax of ZMW3.7 million. There were no dividends declared during the year under review (31 December 2019: Nil).