Mopani Copper

INVESTMENT AND FUNDING FOR ZAMBIAN COPPER PRODUCTION

REVITALISING THE RED METAL

As Zambia seeks to increase domestic copper production, we look at what fresh funding and infrastructure investments mean for Mopani Copper Mines Plc and the nation

Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

One of the most versatile materials on the planet, copper dates back more than 10,000 years.

Humanity’s oldest metal continues to be the go-to choice for a variety of domestic, industrial, and high-tech applications today, owing to its high ductility, malleability, thermal and electrical conductivity as well as its resistance to corrosion.

Copper is thus an essential element of everyday life, a proven plumbing and construction material that is used throughout homes, hospitals, public transport, office spaces, and even renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines.

In Zambia, Africa’s second-largest producer of copper and a country highly dependent on mining, President Hakainde Hichilema has set ambitious copper production targets

since he came to power in August 2021, efforts that are expected to have a positive impact on the country’s overall economic growth. Seeking to boost copper production to three million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) by 2032, up significantly from the current levels of around 850,000 Mtpa, his government has now sourced the funds to increase output at one of Zambia’s largest mining firms, Mopani Copper Mines Plc (Mopani). A multi-faceted mining investment with operations in the Kitwe and Mufulira districts, Mopani is considered a critical asset for the Zambian copperbelt. The company’s operations encompass the entire chain of copper production, from extracting the ore underground to concentrating, smelting, refining and packaging the red metal for export.

The funding sourced for Mopani is one of the steps being taken by the Zambian government to address the challenges facing the industry, such as declining copper prices, high production costs and labour disputes.

It represents a positive development for the mining sector and the country’s economy, with Mopani one of the region’s largest employers whose success is critical to the livelihoods of thousands in the area.

DEEP SHAFT UPGRADES

In the same year that Hichilema became the seventh President of Zambia, ZCCM Investment Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH), a diversified mining investments and operations company, assumed 100 percent ownership of Mopani.

With a rich history in mining and

WE ARE MARKET LEADERS

Limestone Resources Limited is Zambia’s leading lime producer. Located in Ndola, its product lines include quicklime, hydrated lime, and aggregates.

MINING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS, SERVICERS & PROSPECTING MINING DEVELOPERS

Lornbase Mining and Construction Limited is a company specialized in the supply and service of tools and equipment in the mining and construction industry.

Lornbase Mining and Construction Limited have immense responsibilities in developing and distribution of high quality equipment, tools and accessories for well-known and high profile brands both in the mining and construction industry.

Lornbase Mining and Construction limited was registered in August 2000 at PACRA Registrar in Lusaka. Wholly owned by Local Zambians.

Lornbase is a Business partner with Mopani Copper Mines Plc A ZCCM –IH Subsidiary since 2001 to date.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Skilled Labour Hire – Maintenance and Repair of Underground Loaders, Dump Trucks, Utility Vehicles

• Supply of parts of Underground Loaders , Dump Trucks, Utility Vehicles and Other

• Supply of Fygt Pumps, Grindex Submersible Pumps.

• Supply all mining equipment parts , mechanical, Electrical and Hydraulics

• Equipment Hire both surface and Underground

• Reclamation works underground

(Loaders and Dump Truck: Loaders ST3.5 - 3.1m3 x 02 Internal Tip, Loaders ACY-3L - 3.1m3 x 02 Main Tip, Dump truck TH320 x 01)

• Load and Haul of Copper ore underground. (Loader and Dump truck Hire of New Machines: Toro LH410 x 02, TH330 x 03) by December 2022

• Face Development Drilling Toro LH410 x 01, TH320 x 01, DD311 x 01 by December 2022

Gelson Mwale CEO: +260 977 863 707

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL, POWERING DEVELOPMENT

Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC) is a Zambian power generation, transmission, distribution and supply company, operating in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia and the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the region’s major supplier of power to the mining industry. CEC operates in the DRC market through its subsidiary, CEC-DRC Sarl. The privately-owned power utility is a member of the Southern African Power Pool, a pioneering international power trader in Southern Africa and publicly traded on the Lusaka Securities Exchange with more than 5,000 investors.

Tel: +260 212 244556 | +260 212 244956

Website: www.cecinvestor.com

processing that dates back to the 1930s, Mopani’s assets in Kitwe and Mufulira include underground mines, concentrators, a smelter and a refinery.

People are Mopani’s most important asset and the founding pillar of the company’s future success, without whom it cannot achieve its vision of becoming a world class mining operation delivering superior value to all stakeholders.

In keeping with this bold vision, Mopani’s infrastructure continues to be upgraded through investment 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 replace the aging infrastructure at both the Nkana and Mufulira mine sites.

By replacing the existing shafts, Mopani will be able to access ore

reserves at a greater depth, increase hoist production capacity, and reduce the cost of production.

As a result, the Synclinorium and Mindola deep shafts at the Nkana mine, and the Henderson shaft at the Mufulira mine, are expected to extend the life of the mine by over 25 years, improve production efficiencies and safeguard existing jobs, while guaranteeing Mopani’s continued contribution to growing the Zambian economy.

CONCENTRATOR INVESTMENT

Mopani also operates three concentrators, two at the Nkana mine in Kitwe and one at the Mufulira mine.

Ahead of the fresh funding secured this year for Mopani, the new USD$220 million Nkana Synclinorium concentrator in Kitwe was commissioned in March 2022 along with further new equipment, and is expected to improve both recoveries and production efficiencies.

More specifically, the state of the art automated concentrating facility will improve concentrate grades from 23 percent to 28 percent, copper recoveries from 89 percent to 94 percent, and concentrator capacity to 4.2 Mtpa of ore milled to support new shafts production.

It features a plethora of technologies, including concentrate regrind to improve final concentrate grades, two Jameson cleaners, Larox pressure filtration, sampler design to facilitate full metal accounting, and an on-stream analyser system.

The old concentrator, operational since the 1930s, needed upgrading to a new and modern uprated facility to handle the increased production volume from the newly commissioned Synclinorium shaft and has since been placed under care and maintenance.

Copper concentrates from the new Nkana Synclinorium concentrator are trucked to Mufulira, and together with

those from the Mufulira concentrator, are fed into the smelter at the mine site for smelting and processing to produce copper anodes.

IMPROVING PRODUCTION

The future of Mopani lies in expansion projects such as the Synclinorium concentrator and three new deep shafts, which the company has been undertaking since 2013 with a view to extending the lifespan of the mine.

Mopani’s desire is to continue investing in infrastructure development, to cement itself as a world class and proudly Zambian mining operation.

The outlook for 2023 and beyond remains positive for Mopani, with copper prices projected to hold in the short to medium term mainly due to expected high demand for the metal in the solar and electric vehicle (EV) industries.

Mopani’s ore reserves also

remain very attractive, even before considering further exploration, and once the three key shaft sinking projects at Synclinorium, Mindola and Mufulira are complete and operating at full production capacity, the company’s full potential will be unlocked whilst its production and financial performance will be completely transformed.

Now these projects have been fully commissioned, the company is confident that its production levels, efficiencies, safety, and the life of the mine will see significant improvements upon completion in line with the government’s explicit determination to increase copper output.

Bolstered by fresh investment, Mopani is optimistically looking forward to the fruition of the three new shafts, as well as the newly completed Synclinorium concentrator, to improve copper production in Zambia.

METH ENG. LIMITED, as of August 2006, incorporated as a company limited by shares. The principle business of the company is general contracting, supplying and trading.

METH ENG. LIMITED offers engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and maintenance services and operations in the open pit and underground mining environment as well as civil engineering.

PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE