Mopani injects $4bn in modernisation drive

Sat, 29 Jul 2017 12:29:08 +0000

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

MOPANI Copper Mine is carrying out a modernisation programme with a total investment of nearly US$4 billion.

Chief executive officer, Johan Jansen, said Mopani would be turned into a world-class mining company by 2033 with parent corporation Glencore’s commitment and financial support.

Mr. Jansen told Mining Zambia recently that the current modernisation programme was aimed at ensuring the company produced more copper while becoming a world-class mining company.

“Like a sports team, Mopani is near the bottom of the league, and needs to improve its ranking to avoid relegation or closure. We have to achieve operational excellence,

“We must manage our ore body better and improve efficiency. We must improve safety and reduce accidents. To secure our future, we have to double our copper output over the next five years and nearly halve our costs by using better technology and increasing skilled manpower,” he said.

Mr. Jansen explained that MCM would include all its staff and other stakeholders in growing the company.

“We can’t do this unless we take everyone along with us. In Zambia, there’s an old Bemba saying, “Umuchinshi wanseba kwimina pamo”, which roughly translated means that birds that fly together as a flock are stronger,” he said.

Mopani has built a US$20 million training centre where workers have access to some of the best teaching methods and equipment in the world.

This includes state-of-the-art simulators, in which future miners are trained, much like airline pilots are, to handle real-world challenges and emergencies in a safe environment.

Glencore has invested almost US$3 billion in Mopani since privatisation in 2000.

As one of the oldest mines in the world, Mopani has already produced a lot of copper, which has caused a decline in its existing reserves.  The mine now has to dig deeper underground to find copper.