Zambia is losing over $10 million per annum due in forex due to lost production hours and revenues following the indefinite closure of Kasenseli gold mine of Mwinilunga, North Western Province.
This follows revelations that during the first full year of the mine opening (from about June 2020 – October 2021), it had produced a total of about 143Kgs of gold worth over $10 million.
It is now over one and half years (18 months to be specific) after the Government suspended operations at the gold mine, the country continues to lose out on this project as no definite decision regarding its reopening or way forward has been made, indecision seems to have creeped in.
A source with knowledge of the initial production figures at Kasenseli gold mine has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that a total production of about 143kgs of gold was achieved in the first year of operations.
Kasenseli gold mine was able to hit first year production of 143 kg of gold, which could have now been doubled or even quadrupled if production and investment plans were not discontinued.
The source told ZBT that Kasenseli gold mine at a time, saw the Bank of Zambia – BOZ purchase about 110kgs of gold worth over K128 million while the 33kgs worth about $1.8 million was exported.
And Mwinilunga town council chairperson Jonathan Chinyimba has called on the Head of state – President Hakainde Hichilema to now make a decision so that the mine can commence operations. The province and am sure even the central government wants to see the much needed development.
Chinyimba told ZBT that Mwinilunga has a lot of minerals and “my call is for the government to ensure that one or two more mines are opened in order for the district to benefit by way of raising revenue and job creation”.
In a letter date October 22nd, 2021 signed by Mooya Lumamba, the then Director of Mines and Safety in the Mines Safety Department of the Ministry of Mines, Government temporarily suspended mining and processing operations at Kasenseli gold mine citing no order at the mining site.
But the temporal closure seems to have now become a prolonged closure and left the people of Mwinilunga wondering why this is not being prioritized.
