By Derrick Silimina
Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said Government is implementing robust policies to improve the performance of the mining sector in the country.
In a statement, Dr. Musokotwane said Government will also continue to embrace and implement what it takes to regain Zambia’s top spot as a copper mining leader in Africa.
“I am very excited with the progress of mineral exploration works at Lumwana and in other parts of the country because the journey to attain the national copper production target of three (3) million tons per annum by 2030, requires everybody in the copper mining sector to contribute in a consistent manner,” Dr Musokotwane said. He said this when Barrick Lumwana Country Manager Anthony Malenga paid a courtesy call on him in Lusaka, today.
In a meantime, Malenga informed the Minister that following the soon-to-be-completed feasibility works, the $2 billion Lumwana supper-pit expansion project will commence in 2025 with a workforce of approximately 2, 500.
In addition to mine expansion, Malenga disclosed that Lumwana is implementing an important corporate social responsibility programme in the form of a Business Accelerator Programme aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Zambian contractors in the supply chain.
He noted that the intervention is tailored to assist locals to grow, diversify, and ensure business sustainability beyond the lifespan of the Barrick Lumwana Mine in Zambia.
“In the intervening period, we will continue to ramp-up production and hope to reach 240, 000) metric tons per annum when the new mine comes on-stream,” Malenga said.
