Mwembeshi Resources Limited has disclosed that it has made tremendous progress towards resuming full scale copper production and has so far invested over USD $50 million in the development of the Kangaluwi mine in the lower Zambezi National park area.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mwembeshi Resources spokesperson Oliver Shalala explained that the over $50 million has been invested towards the construction of the road to the mining site, connection of the mine to the power line, mineral explorations and the equipment that have so far been purchased for the mine.
Government, through the Zambia Environmental Management Agency – ZEMA, ordered the suspension of all mining operations in the Lower Zambezi National Park which has the capacity to contribute to Government’s 3 million tons target by 2031. ZEMA cited non-compliance with the conditions as the reason behind the temporal suspension, this was outlined in a letter issued to Mwembeshi Resources Limited.
Mwembeshi resources Spokesperson however said the company has since submitted a site environmental restoration plan outlining the steps required to restore the degraded areas within the national park, including the borrow pits, to their original condition as mandated by the Environmental Management Act before the compliance order is lifted.
“We were asked to submit by the 6th June 2023 and we submitted by deadline and the following day ZEMA wrote back to us acknowledging receipt and we are just waiting for their review and their decision.” He said.
When asked how has the suspension affected the development of the mine, Shalala said, ‘we are okay with the Government decision, actually it is good because when this phase passes, no one is expected to say there is an issue of compliance because the experts themselves “ZEMA” would have looked at it and given their review points and approvals
Shalala added that the suspension is part of the process because government has to monitor, adding that this was anticipated and if they have questions at some point they will slow us down or stop us, but its part of the process, there is nothing outside the law which government has done.
“The cease order is part of the process, when we had a [similar] injunction from the courts in 2015, we ceased operations for 6 years until 2021, so that is not a problem to us its part of the process.” Shalala assured.
He said the main objective of the company is to mine sustainably and we shall proceed to mine as soon as the order is lifted and we don’t anticipate failure on our part in terms of meeting the obligations.
He said the major problem are the investors operating in the lower Zambezi who do not want to see any major development coming as they feel threatened by the mine.
“These people who run lodges in the area have had no interest to develop roads, even the simple grading of jet air strip which they use all the time to bring in tourists has been a challenge. Meanwhile Shalala was optimistic that the mining activities will go ahead once the order by ZEMA is lifted.”
Mwembeshi Resources, a subsidiary of Zambezi Resources, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, plans to invest a $494 million in the development of the Kangaluwi copper mine in the Lower Zambezi national park, a move which has been for so long been questioned by environmentalists and Safari lodge owners in the area.
Shalala accused those opposing the development of the Copper mine to have been paid or sponsored by Lodge owners and other stakeholders who feel threatened by the coming in of the mine and eventual development to the area.
