The town of Kalumbila, where Canadian base metals producer First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM’s) Sentinel mine is located, is perhaps the first mining town designed to not depend on the mine that it currently hosts, says the Zambian Chamber of Mines.

About $200-million was invested in the development of the mining town to make it a viable commercial destination in its own right. When the Sentinel mine reaches the end of its working life in about 20 years, the town should not only survive but also thrive, says the chamber.

Earlier this year, during Sentinel’s first quarter, power restrictions threatened the jobs of about 1 480 workers, when FQM shut its Sentinel copper processing plant after electricity supplies to its operations were reduced by 24%. However, Zambia’s State-owned power utility, Zesco, restored full power to the miner shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, the town’s airport runway, currently under construction, is the country’s second-longest and can “easily” handle midsize regional jets. When the runway reaches its full design length of 4 km, it is expected to be the longest in Zambia.

Kalumbila town development corporation services coordinator Michael Kabungo expects the town to become a major business and tourism hub.

“Airlines from Angola, South Africa and other countries will be able to fly straight into Kalumbila to drop off passengers and cargo, or simply to refuel,” he notes.

Kalumbila intends to rival the established Copperbelt town of Kitwe in size and scope by 2050. Several companies have already moved their operations to Kalumbila’s industrial zone, attracted by its planned tax incentives, infrastructure and growth potential, and its proximity to the Congo and Angola as export markets.

Consumable wear parts supplier for the mineral processing industry worldwide ME Elecmetal has, for instance, concluded a contract with the Sentinel mine to construct a multimillion-dollar plant to manufacture high-quality ball mill steel balls.

Kalumbila was driven by Danish urban design consultancy Gehl Architects, which has worked in more than 250 cities globally. The town was designed around core principles: protecting and using nature, creating a good foundation for everyday life and ensuring town growth through the attraction of private investment.

Residential Stimulation

To stimulate homeownership by residents, a rent-to-buy scheme is in effect, allowing a portion of a lessees rent to go towards buying the house being rented, with ownership transferred after 14 years.

Kalumbila is owned by the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation, and not the Sentinel mine, private investment and land acquisition are encouraged. It is envisaged that Kalumbila will eventually be classified as an independent town within the larger district, with autonomy to run its own affairs and ensure that the revenue raised locally is spent locally.

The viability of Kalumbila is the major reason why highly skilled mining personnel from the Copperbelt and abroad relocate their families to this remote corner of Zambia, Kabungo says.

The measure of Kalumbila’s success is not what it looks like now, but what it will look like in 20 years, when Sentinel eventually closes down, he reiterates. By then, Kalumbila will need to be big enough and diversified enough to survive on its own, which extends to investment, private capital and new businesses.

Despite challenges, the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation remains positive and is forging ahead. Its view is that success is the best way to silence sceptics.

“We will continue to develop Kalumbila and grow its economic base to the point where both government and investors are forced to take notice,” concludes Kabungo.