https://www.miningweekly.com

Infrastructure developments will grow Zambia copper sector – Minister

COPPER COMPETITION For the first time since 1988, the Democratic Republic of Congo produced more copper than Zambia, owing to its 2013 production rate of more than 846 000 t

POWERING DEVELOPMENT The Zambian government aims to bring about 3 065 MW of power generation on stream through several key power plant projects

5th December 2014

By: Ilan Solomons

Creamer Media Staff Writer

  

Font size: - +

Zambia’s mining industry aimed to grow copper production from its current 760 000 t/y to more than one-million tons a year by the end of 2015, said Zambian Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma.

Speaking to Mining Weekly on the sidelines of the second International Infrastructure and Invest Convention (IIIC) – which took place concurrently with the Electra Mining Africa tradeshow at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, in September, he highlighted that Zambia had a national plan to extract “as much copper as possible”.

Yaluma said, however, that “there are several challenges that the mining industry has to overcome to ensure that this goal is achieved”.

These include ensuring that national infrastructure, such as electricity generation and transmission networks, roads and railway systems, are improved to support and develop the country’s mining sector.

“We have to counter the challenges that we face from our competitors, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which, for the first time since 1988, is producing more copper than Zambia, following its production output of more than 846 000 t in 2013.”

Nonetheless, Yaluma emphasised that Zambia was intent on reclaiming its number one position as Africa’s biggest copper-producing nation: “We embrace the competition, as competition makes us thrive and drives industrywide innovation in terms of encouraging industry players to improve their operations.”

Power Focus
Yaluma noted that, over the past 20 years, Zambia had relied heavily on electricity imports from neighbouring countries, particularly South Africa, to power the country’s economy.

However, South Africa is also tackling power generation shortfalls, which is why the Zambian government is aiming to bring about 3 065 MW of power generation on stream over the next five to ten years through several key power plant projects, which will collectively cost about $6.54-billion.

Yaluma reveals that, in September, Zambia commissioned the 360 MW Lake Kariba North Bank hydroelectric power station expansion project, which supplements the power generation capacity of the existing 720 MW Lake Kariba North Bank power station, which is also located alongside the Zambezi river.

He further mentioned that the 120 MW Itezhi-Tezhi hydropower station, along the Kafue river, in west-central Zambia, is under construction and scheduled for completion in February 2015.

“The first 60 MW from Itezhi-Tezhi will come on stream by the end of this year,” he added.

Moreover, Yaluma highlighted that Zambia was also developing the $2-billion Kafue Gorge lower hydropower project, in Kafue, Lusaka, which would add another 750 MW to the grid.

All contracts for the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2017, have been signed and construction will get under way in the first quarter of 2015.

Meanwhile, Yaluma noted that Zambia’s power sector was dominated by hydroelectric power, which was not sufficient to meet the demands of the country’s industrial sectors.

He therefore maintained that thermal power plants were ideally suited to fill this gap and play a vital role in meeting the country’s baseload requirements.

Yaluma highlighted coal mining company Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL), which is building a 300 MW coal-fired power station near its coal mining operations, in the Southern province’s Sinazongwe district.

He said the power station was nearing completion and that its first 150 MW of power generation would be added to the power grid by the end of the first quarter of 2015, while the remaining 150 MW would be added to the grid by the end of 2015.

Yaluma added that, once MCL had completed the construction and commissioning of the plant, the company would start construction on a second 300 MW coal-fired station next to the existing plant.

Railway Upgrade
In conjunction with private-sector partners, the Zambian government is undertaking major upgrades to the country’s railway networks, as well as on those that link Zambia to neighbouring and regional countries such as the DRC, Botswana and Namibia.

“We are in the prefeasibility stage of developing a 145 km railway line from the town of Livingstone to the town of Katima Mulilo, passing the Kazungula bridge, which is currently under construction. This will provide a link to Namibia’s Walvis Bay rail corridor to provide Zambia-based mines and manufacturers with improved access to international port terminals to export commodities,” said Yaluma.

He emphasised that, as Zambia was a landlocked country, the project was crucial to ensure the successful implementation of Zambia’s economic development plans.

Yaluma further noted that Zambia was completing a feasibility study for a 150 km railway line connecting Maluka, in Northern province, to the Mpulungu port, on Lake Tanganyika, to support the transport of commodities into the Great Lakes region.

“There is also a 400 km railway line being developed from Mpika, in Muchinga province, to Chipata, in the Eastern province, which will link Zambia with Malawi and the Nacala corridor, in Mozambique.”

The Mpulungu port is also undergoing a $750-million upgrade to ensure that its terminals can handle increased volumes.

Yaluma further pointed out that discussions between Zambia and Zimbabwe regarding the development of the 93 km Lions Den railway line, between Kafue and the Zambia–Zimbabwe Chirundu border post, were at an advanced stage. The railway will link Zimbabwe’s national railway network with the Beira corridor.

The IIIC was organised by German trade fair organiser Deutsche Messe and the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with research and investment advisory firm Frontier Advisory.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

Comments

Latest News

The integration of Alamos' Island Gold mine (pictured) and Argonaut's Magino mine will create synergies of $515-million.
Alamos buys rival Argonaut
27th March 2024 By: Mariaan Webb

Showroom

John Thompson
John Thompson

John Thompson, the leader in energy and environmental solutions through value engineering and innovation, provides the following: design, engineer,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Universal Storage Systems (SA)
Universal Storage Systems (SA)

South African leader in Steel -Racking, -Shelving, and -Mezzanine flooring. Universal has innovated an approach which encompasses conceptualising,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.121 0.155s - 95pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now