JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Zambian President Rupiah Banda on Thursday presided over the official groundbreaking of the $400-million Konkola North copper mine, which is located in the Chililabombwe district in Zambia’s Copperbelt province.

The mine is a 50:50 joint venture between South Africa-based African Rainbow Minerals (Arm) and Brazilian miner Vale.

With a design throughput of 2,5-million tons a year of ore, Konkola North would yield 45 000 t/y of contained copper in concentrate.

The mine has an expected life of 28 years, but the JV partners have started a further three-year exploration programme on an additional exploration area that could potentially double output to 100 000 t/y of copper in concentrate.

The South East limb of the project would be developed first, whereafter the deeper, higher-grade and wider reefs would be mined.

Konkola North is Arm’s first venture on the African continent outside South Africa, as well as its first venture into copper. It was expected to reach full production by 2015 and would provide jobs for about 1 500 people.

Zambian Mines and Mineral Development Minister Maxwell Mwale, Arm chairperson Patrice Motsepe and Vale president and CEO Roger Agnelli also attended the opening ceremony.

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