Zambia US$640M smelter to generate 1,500 job opportunities

Kansanshi Mining Plc plans to build a copper smelter valued at US$640 million in Zambia’s North-Western province in a bid to increase the company’s production. During construction the project is expected to employ 800 workers. Once completed, the plant is anticipated to generate about 1,500 job opportunities. The smelter has a projected lifespan of two decades. According to the environmental impact assessment report that has been submitted to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, the development will have a capacity of 1.2mn tons of copper concentrate per annum, which is equivalent to a net blister copper production of 300,000 tonnes. The project comprises of the construction of an Isasmelt furnace, oxygen plant, sulphuric acid plant and other support infrastructure, such as material handling and storage facilities, power supply sub-station, operation office and workshop. The site will be located on 45 ha of land, 10km north of Solwezi town, Solwezi district.