ZAMBIA remains on course to hit the 1.5 million tonnes annual Copper production target by 2015, Mines, Energy and Water Development deputy Minister Richard Musukwa has told Parliament.
Mr Musukwa also refuted assertions that relations with the mining companies had stifled over the recent years hampering the Copper production targets.
Mr Musukwa was responding to a question by, MMD Liuwa Member of Parliament (MP) Situmbeko Musokotwane, who wanted to know whether assertions that relations with the mining companies had soured thereby affecting production targets.
Mr Musukwa said during yesterday’s Parliamentary proceedings that once developing mining companies go into full production, Zambia would increase Copper production to more than the envisaged 1.5 million tonnes mark.
“There has been steady increase and once mining projects ramp up operations, we envisage to hit the 1.5 million tonnes Copper production by 2015. We have no squabbles whatsoever with the mining companies and we still continue to attract Foreign Direct Investment in the mines,” he said.
Mr Musukwa also said, 366, 627 tonnes of Copper was produced in 1991, 424, 141 tonnes was produced in 2004, while 667, 604 and 763, 805 tonnes was produced in 2011 and 2013 respectively. The response followed a question from MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima.
First, please try to be serious and dress properly, not like a circus clown. Second the high copper production figures you are projecting will only benefit a few greedy foreign investors, not Zambians.
@Wantanshi, I second you on this. This ch1puba deputy minister’s thinking capacity is directly proportional to his dressing.
Of what benefit to Zambians is the high copper production? Zambians have always been on the losing end, and only benefits a few greedy infestors.
1.5 million tonnes, at say $7000 per tonne, that is $10 billion in gross turnover ($10,000,000,000.-).
Now the question is – how much that $10 billion:
– Goes to the State
– Stays in the country
– Goes into loans that will diversify the economy, so there is no massive economic shock if copper prices return back to normal?
We are looking for the PF to start taking action and defend the nation’s economy. Not the profitability of transnational corporations.
What is the benefit of that achievement, if it is even fit to be called an achievement? Most likely the ministers and they deputies will now ask for 1000L of fuel from 800L per month. Thereafter for the last year in office which is 2015 MPs will demand for gradient to be increased by 50% and to be paid five months to the end of their term in offices. In summary mr deputy this is no achievement we want to hear from you. Start working and formulate policies which will benefit the common man and the mine workers, later on hold these companies accountable for the environmental effect due to mining effects like on the Copperbelt
@Zed@crossroad, you’re right. But it’s not gradient, it’s gratutude.
I meant to say “Gratitude”
Hhahahahahaha kekekekekekek!!!!!Even after making the correction, you are still wrong Sir!!!! It’s not “gratitude”. It is called “gratuity”.
Lol, thanks Mr Zulu Banda. Kekekekeke hahahahaha hihihihihih. Lolest
Nonsense, what do you have to show for that anyway? Better keep quiet and that information to your stoopid selves mwema beneficiaries!
Too right man! Instead of collecting the money that is due from the mines, these F00Ls are busy BORROWING more Eurobonds.
And it will be our kids that have to repay this KALOBA!
If you have NO squabbles with VEDANTA, with all that has been revealed in the recent past, then you are the WRONG man in that job Mr Musukwa
Richard get serious,the mine where you’re coming from is on the ‘death bed’ and you want to pretend! KCM my friend is in dire stress. Wake up….
Minister Richard Musukwa, we have heard all the PF LIES so many times we know them by heart by now! The facts are that 2billion $ investment has been put on hold due to the uncertainties created by Sata and his USELESS PF.
And during this PF Government term, DRC has OVERTAKEN Zambia in Copper production.
For you dullards, let me explain what this means. It means the investors that have the capital to develop the mining industry have NO CONFIDENCE in you PF clowns, and have moved their business elsewhere.
Your incompetence, idiocy and lies over the status of the health of KING CABBAGE have proved the point.
Its better left in the ground till a responsible government that knows how to weigh benefits of business and the people comes into power. ..these corrupt PF empty tins are sleeping.
We would even get $500m from all that! !
*We won’t even get….
Sorry Ba Musukwa but did i see a label on your jacket? please remove that label its not good manners to leave that piece on you jacket (i promise not to talk about the way people dress again but i felt i needed to do that this once – sorry for those i might offend with this). back to the issue at hand, so what would that increase translate into? shortened years of the mines? increase in the number of casuals who dont pay anything in terms of taxes because they will be getting less than 3000? please tell us otherwise this statement is very much hanging. figures without quality will always be judged for what they are – numbers without effect on poor Zambians