Zambia’s Copper and gold production during the first half of 2021 declined by about 4% and 5% respectively. However, Small-scale and copper output by mostly locals increased by 43.3% from 5466 tonnes in 2020 to 7834 tonnes in 2021.
According to the 2021 midyear, economic report made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, copper output declined by about 4% to 393,115 tonnes in the first half of 2021 compared to 407,808 tonnes produced in the corresponding period of 2020.
The reduction in output was due to breaking down of equipment at some key mines, reduced ore grade and in one case, depletion of the ore as well as the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic containment measures.
Former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said gold production reduced by 4.5 % in the first half of 2021 to 1,770 Kgs from 1,854 Kgs in the first half of 2020. Yamba said this was largely as a result of the continued low-grade ores at the major producing mines.
“There was a 26.3 % increase in gemstone production to 5,025 Kgs in the first half of 2021 from 3,980 Kgs in the corresponding period of 2020,” he said.
Yamba said during the first half of 2021, coal production increased by 49.9% to 277,620.4 tonnes from 185,225.2 tonnes produced during the first half of 2020.
He said coal output has consistently been on an upward trajectory largely due to an increase in demand for coal in electricity generation.
Meanwhile, Manganese output increased by 53.2% from 25,714 tonnes the first half of 2020 to 39,397 tonnes produced during the first half of 2021. This increase was on account of increased investment in manganese mining.
