AFRICA
The Chibuluma mining area , located south of Kitwe in Zambia , is often referred to as a ‘ model mine ’ operation in Zambia . This is a result of significantly high copper grades , higher than any other mine in the country , a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) that is unrivalled , and a financial model that not only brings shareholder value but consistently pays taxes into the Zambian Government .
The reality facing Chibuluma Mines right now is that the company is staring the end of the life of mine right in the face . Chibuluma , currently , has only four years left on its life of mine . Chibuluma Mines has invested around $ 32million in exploration activity since 2010 in the hope of finding new resources and opportunities to extend that life of mine .
Jackson Sikamo , Chairman and Country Manager at Chibuluma Mines , a Metorex Subsidiary , admits that the company hasn ’ t discovered a significant operation just yet , but it ’ s not all doom and gloom .
“ Despite this , we ’ ve actually been able to extend the current ore body that we have right now . The fact that we have four years left comes from the exploration work we ’ ve been doing ,” he says .
A MODEL MINE ? To be a ‘ model ’ in any industry is no small feat , but in the mining industry it ’ s a monumental achievement . This is a feeling shared by Sikamo , who admits that despite the mine contributing less than two percent of the country ’ s copper production , there is no mine like Chibuluma .
“ In terms of efficiency , good governance , stewardship and the contribution to the community , Chibuluma stands tall above any other mine ,” he says .
Mining in Chibuluma has been ongoing since 1955 , with Metorex acquiring the mine in 1997 . The development and transformation of the mine into the model operation that it is today began in late 2006 . During that time , Chibuluma experienced success after success , with production levels increasing year on year from 10,000 tonnes in the first year until it reached a peak high in 2013 when
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