Zambia Kansanshi Mining to build US$640 million smelter

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 10:03

Kansanshi Mining Plc plans to construct a copper smelter valued at US$640mn in Zambia’s North-Western province in the hope it will increase the company’s production

During construction the project will employ 800 workers and once completed is expected to generate approximately 1,500 job opportunities. The smelter has a projected lifespan of two decades.

According to the environmental impact assessment report that has been submitted to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, the development will have a capacity of 1.2mn tons of copper concentrate per annum, which is equivalent to a net blister copper production of 300,000 tonnes.

The project comprises of the construction of an Isasmelt furnace, oxygen plant, sulphuric acid plant and other support infrastructure, such as material handling and storage facilities, power supply sub-station, operation office and workshop.

The project site will be located on 45 ha of land, 10km north of Solwezi town, Solwezi district.

Nawa Mutumweno