The Zambia Gold Company – ZGC , the company in charge of Kasenseli gold mine has failed to confirm the projected date or timeline of re-opening the Mwinilunga based gold mine despite the Ministry of Mines claims that they have lifted suspension of its operations.
Earlier the Mines Director at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Fred Banda disclosed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the suspension of the operations at Kasenseli gold mine had been lifted with conditions for resuming operations given to ZGC.
ZGC Public Relations Manager Mathews Liyani when contacted by ZBT however said there are still some things that need to be cleared at the ministry of mines and it would be too early for them to comment. He added that the case is still being handled at the ministry level and the ministry of mines and minerals development would be in a better position.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Liyani said the company will only be able to give a comprehensive comment once the ministry of mines and Minerals Development finalises on what they are doing.
He said he could not confirm if Kasenseli Gold Mine will or will not reopen any time soon. Liyani referred the matter back to the ministry of mines stating that “the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development would be in the better position to give the right update on when exactly will the Company re-open the gold mine”.
The continued indefinite closure of Kasenseli Gold Mine’s operations have continued to harm Zambia’s gold reserves build up as the central bank – BOZ has confirmed that purchases from ZGC have been discontinued after the mine operations were indefinitely suspended by the new dawn government upon assuming state power.
There seems to be a business as usual approach at the ministry of mines were strategic gold mining operations have remained suspended for about half a year, losing the country millions of dollars in forgone export revenues.
Even large scale copper mines operations such as Mopani Copper mines and KCM are operating at sub-optimal levels despite the current high global copper prices due to failure to urgently resolve the capitalization and investment requirements, some of which can even be sourced using their parent company ZCCM IH without waiting for foreign equity partners or investors.
