Friday, March 29, 2024

Illegal mining activities worry Lumwana

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Lumwana Mining Company (LMC) Managing Director Harry Michael has expressed worry at the illegal mining activities by unscrupulous individuals taking place in the LMC license area.

Mr. Michael said it was unfortunate that some individuals had started mining illegally in the LMC license area before its rightful owners could start production .

Mr. Michael said when Solwezi West Member of Parliament Mr. Humphrey Mwanza toured the mine yesterday that development schedule for a typical large copper projects around the world takes an average of 10 years as a result of technicalities involved ranging from explorations to production.

Mr. Michael reiterated that Lumwana mining company which is fully owned by Equinox minerals would be the largest single investment in the country’s mining once production commences in the second quarter of this year.

He however warned management and other stakeholders to become responsible once production begins so as to safe guard the 37 year life span of the mine, adding that being irresponsible towards the mine would shorten its life span .

The managing director said he was delighted to note that Equinox minerals has committed more resources for on exploration work this year .

Mr. Michael disclosed that 14 international banks have agreed to lend Lumwana mining company US 584 million for the development of the mine for over two years, making it the largest debt finance package in the history of the African continent .

He said the financial institutions are from South Africa, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Canada.

Meanwhile, Lumwana mining company has sponsored 54 scholarships at University of Zambia (UNZA) in the fields of mining engineering, geology ,metallurgy, chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering which are critical to the mining industry like Lumwana.

7 COMMENTS

  1. I confess my comments on mining issues pa zed will always be biased. Let it be called illegal but Zambians should access their soil na mabwe yabo. It appears Lumwana was given too much land, probably more than they require!!
    Chinese are busy stealing mineral ores all over the Zambia. For them it will never be illegal, but for a black Zambian police get excited and look up their own brothers.

  2. For your own information the people who are behind this illegal mining are the chinese who are employing local Zambians and shipping the ore out of the country.

  3. The mineral royalty tax should be specifically invested in the area where the mining is done.This will enable the local community to guard these resources jealously as they are then direct beneficiaries.
    Illegal or unauthorised mining will always be there until the benefits are relocated from Lusaka back into the Village.

  4. Zambia for Zambians, nothing illegal about an Easterner scrstching land to find his rat for dinner, or a lamba, kaonde scratching land for a piece of a stone to sell so as to feed his family, or a Luapula fisherman casting his net in Luapula river to make ends meet.
    It is ILLEGAL for anyone to come, crossing oceans tostart scratching OUR LAND for EVEN A GRAIN OF SAND. Live the local peopla alone.
    WHEN A DOG BITES ME, NO NEWS AT ALL, BUT WHEN I BITE A DOG, IT IS BIG NEWS EVEN AS FAR AS CHINA. Same old sh..t! GIVE ZAMBIANS A BREAK AND DONT CALL THEM ILLEGAL MINERS.

  5. Bull sh#t let zambians enjoy what is theires.have u ever seen any zambian going to claim for land in any of the countries overseas, especialy in china.so let them mine and get food for their families.

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