Revision of night ban eases pressure on FQM

Wed, 10 May 2017 10:13:08 +0000

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

 GOVERNMENT’S decision to revise the Statutory Instrument (SI) 76 of 2016 which banned night driving by truckers will ensure that First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM) contribution to the Treasury is maintained, says the company’s country manager General Kingsley Chinkuli.

SI 76 0f 2016, which restricts the movement of public service vehicles at night, came into effect on November 28, 2016, and constrained the movement of freight or goods vehicles from travelling between 2100 hrs and 0500 hrs.

Transport and Communication Minister Brian Mushimba has however revised the regulation and it will now not apply to trucks that met set requirements, but that the movement of passenger service transporters still remained restricted.

FQM has welcomed Government’s decision to revise it.

Mr Chinkuli explained that the ban on the night-time movement of freight and goods vehicles was hampering his company’s operations, as well as damaging the economic viability of the mining sector.

He said FQM invested US $5.7 billion in its Sentinel mine, and Kansanshi mine and smelter, and had paid more than US$3 billion in taxes in the last 10 years, transforming the economy of North-Western Province.

“These figures demonstrate the importance of the mining sector as a whole, and First Quantum in particular, to the nation’s economy. They also emphasise how vital it is to ensure that the sector and the companies within it remain robust and profitable,” he said.

“And it is for this reason that we commend the Government for revising SI 76 of 2016 following their extensive consultation with industry last year. Given the mining industry’s dependency on robust and reliable logistics this move will ensure the company’s contribution to the nation’s Treasury is maintained,” he added.

The mining firm is of the belief that when transport systems were safe and efficient, they provided economic and social opportunities and benefits that resulted in positive multiplier effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments. FQM produces around half of the Zambia’s copper, and between its mines and neighbouring Lumwana, some 40-50 truckloads of copper concentrate and at least 30 truckloads of finished copper travel on the Solwezi-Chingola road every day.