Zambia Suspends Two Copper Mining Projects Operated By Chinese Companies

LONDON, August 20th (Argus) - Hapenga Kabeta, the permanent secretary of the Zambia Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, said this week that the ministry has suspended the processing activities of two Chinese-operated copper mines. The Sino Octascene and Ken Reliable mines are located in the Kasempa District of North-West Province. During inspections, a large amount of copper ore inventory was found piled up for processing. Kabeta said that these two mines carried out mineral processing without relevant documents and without authorization for an unspecified period of time. He said that the copper ore inventory has been confiscated, the company managers have been handed over to law enforcement officers for questioning, and appropriate documents have been ensured to be obtained from the Environmental Protection Department. "We are determined to enhance the transparency and compliance of mineral trade. This position is non-negotiable," Kabeta said, adding that the government will now start to strengthen the monitoring of mineral processing plants across the country to ensure full compliance with mining regulations. The Sino Octascene and Ken Reliable mines are owned by a subsidiary of China's state-owned mining company, Sino Metals. Their main products are cathode copper and copper concentrate, with annual production capacities of 8,000 tons and 4,000 tons respectively.