Kansanshi records high copper output

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KANSANSHI Mine Plc, the Zambian Subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals (FQM), produced more than 250,000 tonnes of copper in 2013, highlighting a growth rate of four per cent from the year 2012.

The mining giant further produced 167,395 ounces of gold throughout 2013 compared to 136,056 ounces over the same period in 2012, representing an improvement of 23 per cent.

FQM president Clive Newall announced in a statement that in 2013,

Kansanshi mine produced 270,724 tonnes of copper compared to 261,351 tonnes produced in 2012.

Mr Newall said in the year under review, Kansanshi also produced 167,395 ounces of gold compared to 136,056 ounces produced in 2012.

“The limited local smelting capacity in Zambia did continue to impact on Kansanshi’s sales volumes of copper concentrate,” Mr Newall said.

Regarding mineral sales across its global subsidiaries, FQM sold 386,057 tonnes of copper in 2013 compared to 295, 466 tonnes in 2012, representing a difference of 31 per cent.

In addition, the firm sold 228, 962 ounces of gold in 2013 compared to 202,303 ounces the previous year.

FQM is in the process of developing an additional copper mine at Kalumbila in Solwezi.

At the project dubbed Sentinel, FQM has already completed major construction works and is expected to commission the mine this year at a cost of more than US$2 billion.

Sentinel is expected to produce 300,000 tonnes of copper once fully operational bringing Zambia’s overall copper production to about 1million tonnes per annum.

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