By Kalata News Media.
Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has since last implemented the Buy Local, Buy Zambian policy.
This is aimed at increasing the number of local companies providing goods and services to the Kitwe-based mining firm.
According to the Mine, MCM has implemented various reforms to its supply value chain programme to promote inclusiveness and fairness as well as create opportunities for increased local participation under its new “Buy Local, Buy Zambian” deliberate policy.
Mopani says it will only be dealing with foreign contractors and suppliers for what they term “highly specialized works requiring manufacturers to supply and install while the rest of the goods and services are procured locally.”
Writes Mopani, “we continue to hold regular fruitful meetings with our contractors and suppliers in both Kitwe and Mufulira as well as with business associations secretariats, among them the Zambia Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors, the Kitwe and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Mufulira Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
In terms of mining, Mopani Copper Mines has since 2014 sunk and equipped three (3) brand new shafts to replace the old infrastructure at both Nkana and Mufulira mine sites, which dates back to the 1930s. The three new shafts are Syclinorium and Mindola Deeps Shafts at Nkana Mine in Kitwe and The Henderson Shaft at Mufulira Mine site. Mopani has also built a brand new Concentrator at Nkana mine site, The New Syclinorium Concentrator.
Mopani says the new infrastructure was expected to extend the life of the mine by over 25 years, improve production efficiencies and safeguard the existing jobs while guaranteeing Mopani’s continued contribution to growing the Zambian economy.
Mopani Copper Mines PLC continues to undertake Exploration Drilling at both Nkana and Mufulira Mine Sites. This is expected to help increase the resource and reserve base of the Company thereby extending the life of the mine.
Writes Mopani, “Mopani Copper Mines PLC’s Refinery has the capacity to produce 220,000 tonnes of copper cathode per annum. At the Refinery, copper anodes coming from the Smelter are electro-refined to produce cathodes with 99.999 percent Copper and conforming to LME grade ‘A’. Mopani Copper Mines PLC cathodes are among the purest in the world and we bundle them with pride for export.”
Mopani Copper Mines PLC is in the process of buttressing [reinforcing] and expanding its tailings storage facilities (TSF) in both Kitwe and Mufulira to enable the Mine to handle the expected significant increase in the volume of tailings from the increased production from the new Expansion projects.
The buttressing will increase the factors of safety to safeguard mitigate against similar recent worldwide dam failures. Feasibility studies that incorporated Geotechnical factors, Buttress design, Emergency Response and Trigger Action Response Plans have since been completed and reviewed by independent reviewers. Upgrade of Services installations that include real time monitoring of Dam infrastructure will be completed by 2022. Construction of the Buttressing Dam Walls is planned to commence in 2022 and will run concurrently with the completion of the Expansion projects.
Mopani says it continues to invest in various high-impact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes in both Kitwe and Mufulira. The Company’s commitment to promoting the well-being of the community through its robust CSR initiatives cuts across Social Infrastructure, Education, Health, Sports Development, Emergency Response and Environmental Management Programmes.
Mopani also operates Analytical Services Laboratories that offer standard and novel analytical testing facilities to the mining and metallurgical operations of Mopani Copper Mines and the entire mining industry based on international best operating practices.
Writes Mopani, “at global level, our laboratory services are ranked in the top quartile performance in the proficiency-testing scheme consisting of over 27 participating laboratories spanning across five continents, namely; North America, South America, Europe, Far East Asia and Africa.”
Mopani Copper Mines Plc is a multi-faceted mining investment with operations in Kitwe and Mufulira districts of the Copperbelt Province. The company’s operations encompass the full range of the copper production chain: from extracting the ore underground to concentrating, smelting, refining and packaging the finished red metal for export.
A Zambian registered entity, Mopani Copper Mines Plc is owned by ZCCM Investment Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH), a diversified mining investments and operations company with a primary listing on the Lusaka Securities Exchange in Zambia, and secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom and the Euronext Access Exchange in Paris, France. ZCCM-IH assumed ownership of Mopani Copper Mines Plc in 2021 after buying off the majority stake in the mine from Carlisa Investments – a joint venture between Swiss commodity trader Glencore and Canadian-based First Quantum Minerals – which ran Mopani from privatisation in 2000.
With a rich history in mining and processing dating back to the 1930s, Mopani’s assets in Kitwe and Mufulira include underground mines, concentrators, a smelter and a refinery. Mopani Copper Mines Plc continues to upgrade its infrastructure by investing in new technologies to increase production and improve efficiencies. The new infrastructure includes three deep shafts (Synclinorium, Mindola and Henderson), which were sunk and equipped between 2014 and 2021 to extend the life of the mine by over 25 years, safeguard the existing jobs at both mine sites and ensure Mopani’s continuous contribution to Zambia’s economic development.
Mopani Copper Mines Plc remains committed to supporting the social-economic development of the host communities through its robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. The company supports the development of sports, local enterprises, education, health, basic infrastructure as well as water and sanitation in the communities of Kitwe and Mufulira.
