First Quantum says to shut down Zambia copper plant
Zambia - Corporate - 07-29-2010

Canadaquotes First Quantum Minerals will suspend production at its Bwana Mkubwa copper processing plant in Zambia in August 2010 after running out of raw materials, technical manager Andre Scott said on 28 July 2010. Scott said Bwana Mkubwa had exhausted the copper ore oxide it imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and operations would be suspended until the plant sourced other economically viable raw materials. quoteWe will be closing the plant in August 2010 because the ore has been exhausted earlier than we had initially thought due to higher output,quote Scott said. First Quantum produced 5,000 tonnes of copper at its Bwana Mkubwa processing plant in Zambia in the first six months of 2010 after it said in January 2010 production was expected to average 800 tonnes per month. Scott said the plant was initially expected to process stockpiled ore from another First Quantum operation, the Lonshi mine in the DRC until the end of 2010. Bwana Mkubwa resumed output in January 2010 after authorities in the DRC partially lifted the ban on copper ore exports, which forced the closure of the plant in October 2008. Copper Mining in Zambia, Africaquotes largest producer of the metal, is the countryquotes main economic lifeblood.

Source: Reuters