THE Kapiri Glass Products (KGP) will be in operation next year, Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Dora Siliya said in a Parliament yesterday.
Ms Siliya said this in response to Roan member of Parliament (MP) Chishimba Kambwili (PF) who wanted to know why the new owner of the company, Chimsoro Milling, was not opening the company.
She said after a German company that bought it earlier failed to open it, the company was sold to Chimsoro Milling who commissioned a feasibility study to determine the viability of the firm.
She said US$13 million was required to restart the company and that the owner of the company had identified technical partners while Zambian companies had shown willingness to assist with funds.
“There are no plans to revoke the sale because Chimsoro Milling has assured Government that by next year it will open the glass manufacturing company,” she said.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said Chimsoro Milling, a Zambian company, should be given credit for its efforts to re-open the company when German investors failed.
Mines Deputy Minister Maxwell Mwale told Parliament that Government would earn an estimated K2.4 trillion from Chibuluma Mine, Nchanga Open Pit and Mindolo Shaft by the time copper deposits would be finished.
Mr Mwale said the three mines shared 64.7 million tonnes of copper with Chibuluma having an eight-year life-span, Nchanga 14 years and Mindolo 17 years.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said the Government would this year open a mission in Malaysia in an effort to enhance economic interaction, especially that the same country was also planning to establish a Multi-Facility Zone in Zambia.
Mr Pande said his ministry was also planning to open up a national secretariat for the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) for it to oversee the implementation of programmes.
Pemba MP David Matongo (UPND) advised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should explain to critics that the new mining tax regime would not affect Zambia’s international relations.
And Defence Deputy Minister Mwendoi Akakandelwa told the House that 22 Zambian soldiers died on duty while on peacekeeping missions from 2002 to 2007 and US$50,000 was paid by the United Nations as compensation to their families.
[Times of Zambia]