Zambian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Wylbur Simuusa visited Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in his capacity as Nchanga Member of Parliament last month to familiarise himself with the company’s operations.

Speaking after the commissioning of new equipment at the Chingola Open Pits (COP) F&D shaft, which restarted operations in July following a one-and-a-half year lull, Simuusa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring KCM overcomes its current operational challenges.

He said the resumption of operations at COP F&D was a clear commitment by LSE-listed diversified mining and minerals company Vedanta Resources and its subsidiary KCM to enhance productivity, sustain jobs and ensure broader mining sector growth.

Simuusa said: “KCM is critical to the growth of the mining sector and the Zambian economy. It holds together the local economy of Chingola and the other towns in which the company operates. Therefore, it is important that KCM performs well and, as Member of Parliament for Nchanga, I will render all the necessary support to KCM so that it can completely come out of the problems it has faced in recent times.

“I am happy that KCM is implementing measures intended to improve its operations through the business improvement plan. This will soon bring positive results and put smiles on the faces of people of Chingola and the entire nation,” he added.

KCM has purchased three hydraulic excavators, one of them a 7 m3 bucket and two 15 m3 bucket types – the first of their type in Zambia, for the operations. In addition to the three excavators, the company has also procured two bulldozers, a D10T and a D9T, six light vehicles and a MAN bus. KCM has also refurbished two Komatsu 100 t trucks and four Cat 240 t trucks and put them back into production at COP F&D and Cut II.

“The purchase of this equipment, worth $16-million, is a sign of commitment to improve productivity, which will, in turn, ensure longevity of operations, which should enable the Zambian government to continue to collect various taxes from KCM and spend revenue on improving social sectors, such as education, health, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure expansions and upgrades,” Simuusa said.

KCM CEO Steven Din assured the Minister of Vedanta’s commitment to Zambia by reiterating that the KCM operations were running on a 50-year vision.

“The new excavators that Minister Simussa has commissioned have been acquired by KCM for one purpose – to increase production. They form part of a broader strategy towards increased production. At Nchanga Integrated Business Unit, a total of $16- million has been spent on equipment purchases and repairs, including the acquisition of two dozers, six light vehicles, the refurbishment of six trucks and, of course, the excavators that we are commissioning today,” Din said.