The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is delighted with the investment and commitment Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has continued to make in ensuring extended productivity and prolonging the life of the mine.

Speaking during a tour of the mine, ZDA Director General Mr. Andrew Chipwende said KCM had succeeded in all its pledged commitments by making massive investment in modernizing its operations and creating employment for over 20,000 people.

“At the time KCM took over the operations of the mine in 2002, they committed to not only revamp the mine but to extend the life of the mine, increase production and also to invest in the treatment facility and so far they have succeeded in that commitment,” Mr Chipwende said.

“There is a lot of investment that has gone into modernizing the operations of the mine but I am also happy to see the effort being made by KCM to improve the environmental impact the operations can have in the community in which it operates,” he said.

Mr. Chipwende was also happy with the level of participation by graduates from universities and colleges in the operations of the mine and KCM’s substantial investment in training its employees and upgrading their skills.

He said it was motivating to see how the community is benefiting from the mine not only through employment but also from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme that KCM had taken up by providing help in various services and creating significant business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

“I have seen a healthy level of cooperation on the Zambian side by Zambian contractors who are doing business with the mine in providing different services, which is contributing to creating employment and also increasing tax revenues,” he said.

Mr. Chipwende said ZDA will be engaging with the Ministry of Mines together with KCM to see how they can take up new exploration to add to the current production.

And commenting on the tour, Zambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) President, Mr. Geoffrey Sakulanda said he was happy with KCM management’s high safety precautions that guaranteed the safety of its employees. He said the low statistics of accidents that have happened at the mine are there to show for it.

Mr. Sakulanda was impressed with the modern equipment that the mine is using in its operations which has led to new and simpler mining methods.

He said KCM’s initiative to start reclaiming some of the old waste, which is now being treated, is contributing to production hence prolonging the life of the mine.

“If you look at the mine, they have been through a very difficult time after reaching their lowest point in 1997 and after Anglo American pulled out in 2002, everybody thought this was the end of Nchanga and Konkola Mine, but everybody has been proven wrong because of the advance in technology, and the new mining methods introduced,” Mr. Sakulanda said