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Zambia’s Copper production is projected to be around 700,000 tonnes this year and next year before rising to 1 million tonnes in 2018.
Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda has told Reuters that this is because the pricing of copper has been consistently low and some mines have halted production.
Mr. Chanda says copper production is expected to increase to about 1 million tonnes in 2018 when prices of the metal are expected to start rising.
Copper production in Africa’s second-biggest producer of the metal inched higher to 711,515 tonnes in 2015 from 708,000 tonnes the previous year mainly due to a new mine owned by Canada’s First Quantum Minerals.
Meanwhile a pilot project for the introduction of a new system under which mining companies would be required to report their production electronically has been launched.
Speaking during the launch in Lusaka today, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner of Customs Dingani Banda said the new system would improve accuracy in reporting of mineral quantities and quality by mining companies.
Mr. Banda said the measures are expected to enhance collection of revenue.
He said the new system would start with Chambishi, Launshya and Lubambe mines before rolling it out later this year.