Gemfields to reopen Kagem emerald mine after nearly a year of standstill
UK-headquartered Gemfields has confirmed that its 75%-owned Kagem emerald mine, in Zambia, will reopen principal operations in a phased manner starting in the second week of March.
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic all but critical operations at the mine have remained suspended since March 30, 2020.
The operating company, Kagem Mining, says the reopening process will start with the wash plant production area, followed by the mining operations, which is expected to be completed by the second week of April.
Kagem says it has been able to avoid redundancies and retain its workforce, which was still paid 80% of their basic salaries despite not working, owing to financial support provided by Gemfields.
The balance of the mine is owned by the Zambian Industrial Development Corporation.
Gemfields remains unable to provide reliable guidance as to when it might return to its regular emerald auction format and schedule, meaning future revenues remain uncertain.
The company was, however, able to hold a series of mini-auctions in the last quarter of 2020, with the Minister of Mines’ approval.
Despite the ongoing challenges faced as a result of the pandemic, Kagem remains committed to delivering strong production and successful auctions in the 2021 financial year, maintaining employment for the local workforce and delivering financial contributions back to Zambia.
Comments
The
functionality
you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.
If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.
For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.
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?
Receive 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)
➕
Recieve 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
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation