JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - Aim-listed African Copper has restarted operations at the Mowana mine in Botswana, which was placed on care-and-maintenance in early 2009.

The operational team on site had mobilised a new mining contractor and had recommissioned the concentrator with the assistance of a team of specialist metallurgical and engineering personnel from African Copper's main shareholder, Zambia Copper Investments.

African Copper reported that teething problems had been encountered during the recommissioning of the concentrator as it came out of a period of extended care-and-maintenance.

The mine was placed on care-and-maintenance in January pending the completion of funding negotiations.

Mowana is likely to advance to steady state nameplate production through the coming quarters, the base-metals miner said in a statement.

The feed grade delivered from the pit from fresh ore exposure had been consistently 20% above the forecast feed grade of 1,2% copper. Also, the average grade produces is 26% copper, which African Copper said was about 12% above its forecast.

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