Zambia starts search for new investor in Konkola Copper Mines
The government takeover of KCM will go to an arbitration hearing in January 2023 in London
07 June 2022 - 18:12
byChris Mfula
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A system of conveyor belts at the Nchanga copper mine, operated by Konkola Copper Mines Plc, in Chingola, Zambia. Picture: WALDO SWIEGERS/GETTY IMAGES
Lusaka — Zambia’s Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) will appoint an adviser to help it find an equity investor willing to fund the mine’s expansion, its provisional liquidator said on Tuesday.
Zambia’s previous government put KCM into the hands of a liquidator in May 2019, triggering an ongoing legal dispute with Vedanta Resources, KCM’s parent company.
The government at that time accused Vedanta of failing to honour licence conditions, including promised investment, charges which Vedanta has denied.
The government takeover of KCM will go to an arbitration hearing in January 2023 in London, Zambia mines minister Paul Kabuswe said on June 1.
KCM provisional liquidator Celine Nair said in a statement that a strategic equity investor would be required to guarantee the development of the company’s $1.1bn Konkola Deep Mining Project.
Firms invited to submit a proposal to act as adviser include international banks Citibank Investment Banking Group, Standard Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Rothschild, Rand Merchant Bank and InvestEcon, Nair said.
“The search for a strategic investor in Konkola Copper Mines has started in earnest,” Nair said.
Nair also announced the resumption of mining operations at a KCM open pit mine, saying the move was part of broader plans to improve operations before the government finds a new investor.
KCM plans to spend $17m on an annual maintenance shutdown of the Nchanga Smelter, which has an annual capacity of 311,000 tonnes of copper, said Nair, who also announced other measures to expand output in the Konkola East operation.
“We are looking at various options to improve production at KCM for the benefit of the company and the nation,” Nair said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Zambia starts search for new investor in Konkola Copper Mines
The government takeover of KCM will go to an arbitration hearing in January 2023 in London
Lusaka — Zambia’s Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) will appoint an adviser to help it find an equity investor willing to fund the mine’s expansion, its provisional liquidator said on Tuesday.
Zambia’s previous government put KCM into the hands of a liquidator in May 2019, triggering an ongoing legal dispute with Vedanta Resources, KCM’s parent company.
The government at that time accused Vedanta of failing to honour licence conditions, including promised investment, charges which Vedanta has denied.
The government takeover of KCM will go to an arbitration hearing in January 2023 in London, Zambia mines minister Paul Kabuswe said on June 1.
KCM provisional liquidator Celine Nair said in a statement that a strategic equity investor would be required to guarantee the development of the company’s $1.1bn Konkola Deep Mining Project.
Firms invited to submit a proposal to act as adviser include international banks Citibank Investment Banking Group, Standard Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Rothschild, Rand Merchant Bank and InvestEcon, Nair said.
“The search for a strategic investor in Konkola Copper Mines has started in earnest,” Nair said.
Nair also announced the resumption of mining operations at a KCM open pit mine, saying the move was part of broader plans to improve operations before the government finds a new investor.
KCM plans to spend $17m on an annual maintenance shutdown of the Nchanga Smelter, which has an annual capacity of 311,000 tonnes of copper, said Nair, who also announced other measures to expand output in the Konkola East operation.
“We are looking at various options to improve production at KCM for the benefit of the company and the nation,” Nair said.
Reuters
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