Company head of finance Eustus Munsaka said the biggest challenge is that the current mineral deposit will be mined out within the next few years.
Chibuluma is one of the first Zambian mines to be privatised in 1997, and after over 18 years of operation, it is nearing the end of its working life.
The mine is 85 percent owned by the South African mining company Metorex, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China’s Jinchuan Group since 2012.
“Unless our ongoing exploration finds a new copper deposit worth exploiting soon, Chibuluma will probably close sometime between 2020 and 2022. All mines have a natural lifespan, and we are about to reach the end of ours,” Mr Munsaka said in a statement yesterday.
However, he said a US$4.4 million rehabilitation programme is underway to restore the landscape to its original state.
“Some 33,000 trees have been planted, carpet grass has been laid, and firebreaks have been built. Once the mine stops operating, various structures and buildings will be demolished and roads will be scraped.
“More land will be replanted with vegetation, and any contaminated land will be neutralised with lime. The entrance to the mine will be sealed to reduce the risk of acid mine drainage,” he said.
It is projected that after closure, the shareholder Metorex and its parent company, Jinchuan, will shift their focus to the larger copper-mining investments in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Even though closure is still a few years off, Chibuluma has developed a track record in its contribution to Zambia since it was privatised in 1997.
The mine has paid over US$120 million corporate taxes to Government, uplifted the community through its corporate social responsibility programme, and stimulated the local economy and job creation through the spending power of its employees.
I don’t quiet get understand this. It’s not like there is any other option is there?
Thanks
BB2014,2016
I dont quiet understand why you mushota are always first to comment.
Are you LT administrator?
The mine was very vibrant with foresight until the whites left. …
The rest is history.
Life in the mines. Nikulimba taa. lets open our eyes and think beyond mining.
I appreciate the fact that they have plans to rehabilitate the land after closure. Hope KCM and other big mines have similar plans when they finish milking their mines. The mines minister should have deliberate policies that ensure all former mine pits and underground mines are rehabilitated before any mine investor cease its operations.
They buy only the copper not the land which is enough reason why they must plan for rehabilitation after ceasation.If any thing, there should be a statutory reserve requirement for rehabilitation so that in case they pull out, people(citizens) should still
continue realizing other benefits from land resource.
Thanks
This is good news.
Thanks to Chinese guys. U really serious with work.
Let’s see zambia without copper
I remember this tale!
I dont like these mines about to close.
I dont like these mines about to close on us.
I dont like that these mines are about to close.
I dont like these types of posts for us to read.
I dont care what you say about them.
I dont care what it is that you say wenare getting into
I dont care.
I dont care what you have to say about this.
Plan your future miners lest you eat dust.