Zambia is an inland country in central Africa, with the whole territory of 75.3 thousand square kilometers, only 2.5% of the total area in Africa, but it has rich copper and cobalt resources, containing 4% of the world's copper reserves and 3.9% cobalt reserves. In today's situation of rising metal prices, world mining investors pay more attention to its rich copper, cobalt resources.
Zambia 2006 copper mine output (metal content) was estimated at 514,000 tons, an increase of 15 percent over the previous year (according to the U.S. Geological Survey, "Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2008" the revised data, Zambia copper output in 2006 was 476 thousand tons, an increase of 9.2 percent over the previous year), and is 靠0 in the world. Zambia is also Africa's largest copper producer, copper production accounts for about 64.5% of the total in Africa. Zambia's cobalt production is about 8000 tons in 2006, a decrease of 14% over the previous year, column 2 in the world. The main copper and cobalt producing mines, including:
1) Kansanshi copper and cobalt mine, located in the North 15 km of North-Western Province Solwezi,, 16 km from the southern border of the Congo. There are 267 million tons of proven ore reserves, grade of 1.5% -3%. Ore production capacity is 12 million tons in 2006, as Zambia's largest copper producing mines. The operators Kansan shi Mining Corporation (Canada's First Quantum Minerals Co. Ltd., First Quantum Minerals Ltd, accounts for 79.4%, Zambia United copper mine holding companies accounts for 26.6%), in 2006 it has invested $ 290 million into mining, also invested $ 70 million for high-pressure oxidation and filtration.
2) Konkola copper and cobalt mines. It has 250 million tons of proven ore reserves, grade of 3.8%. In Mid-2006, it's production capacity was 2.4 million tons. The operator is Konkola copper mine Company. The mine was originally UK& American operations, who withdrew investment in 2002. In 2005, the India Vedanta company took over, now the company shares 51% stake in Konkola Copper Mine. Zambia Copper Investments Limited and Zambia united copper mine holding company own the remaining 28.4% and 26.6% of the stake. The company plans to invest another 400 million U.S. dollars for the expansion. Konkola mines discovered another 4300 hectares in northern area, with proven ore reserves of 100 million tons.
3) Nchanga copper and cobalt mine with proved reserves 206 million tons of sulfide ore and oxide ore, the ore production capacity of 7.3 million tons in 2006, is Zambia's biggest open pit copper mine. The upper ore body takes open-pit mining with annual production capacity of 4.5 million tons, an average grade of 2.3%; the lower part of the ore body takes underground mining, the annual production capacity of 2.8 million tons, grade of 3.7%. All of mine owned by Konkola Copper Mine.
4) Nkana copper-cobalt mine and Mufulira copper and cobalt mine. The two mines own nearly 100 million tons of proven ore reserves, with an average grade of 2.3% The two mines both take underground mining, 2006 production capacity were 5 million tons and 2.5 million tons. Mopani Copper Mines has the mining rights of the two mines, which is a joint venture of Swedish Glencore International (Glencore international AG, accounting for 81.2%) and Canada's First Quantum Minerals (First Quantum Minerals), named Carlisa joint (Carlisa accounted for 90% and Zambia holding company shared 10%).
In addition, there are Chambishi copper ore, with annual production capacity of 800,000 tons of ore,(which can produce about 50,000 tons of fine copper), whose operator is NFC Africa Mining plc; Baluba copper underground mining, with annual production capacity of 1.4 million tons, whose operator is Luanshya copper Mines Ltd.; and Chibuluma copper and cobalt mines, with annual production capacity of 480,000 tons (which can produce 15,000 tons of fine copper), whose operator is Chibuluma Mines plc.
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