Employees: 8,200 employees (direct) 9,400 (contract)
Mopani Copper Mines is a Zambian registered company owned by Carlisa Investments Corporation (a joint venture company comprising Glencore International AG and First Quantum Minerals Limited) and ZCCM-IH.
MCM copper, as quoted on the London Metal Exchange is considered amongst the purest copper in the world. Mopani spent US$485 million up to end of 2005 with another US$229 million committed for 2006, making Mopani the largest investor in Zambia. Mopani is committed to increasing production and reducing the cents-per-`pound cost of copper and cobalt through the consistent use of internationally acceptable management and mining practices.
On April 2000, Mopani purchased the ZCCM assets at Mufulira Mine (comprising of underground mine, concentrator, smelter and refinery) at the northern extension of the Zambian Copperbelt and at Nkana Mine (underground mine, concentrator and cobalt plant) in the centre of the Zambian Copperbelt.
Mufulira refinery is the largest copper refinery in Africa with the capacity to produce in excess of 250,000 tonnes of finished copper per annum. A programme is currently under way to rebuild and modernize the Mufulira metallurgical complex. This will comprise a new primary smelting furnace, a matte-settling furnace, a sulp huric acid plant, an oxygen plant and an update of the associated infrastructure. Currently, MCM’s smelter has the capacity to process about 410 000 t of concentrate a year. New technology, known as Isasmelt, will be installed in early 2006 at the Mufulira smelter by the Swiss firm Xstrata to dramatically increase the capacity for processing copper concentrate to 650 000 t/y. The new furnace will be a top-blown submerged-lance vessel in which concentrate will be smelted to a matte containing about 60% copper. The capital involved and the operating costs are relatively low.
MCM is also erecting a sulphuric acid plant, which is being constructed by Grinaker LTA. The first phase is currently being erected and will treat the fugitive gases from the furnace side of the smelter, to produce about 850 t/d of acid.
Mopani employs just over 8,200 direct employees with a contract labour strength of 9,400. Mopani has created approximately 5,500 new jobs since inception. Mopani is the largest single employer. Mopani is also committed to social programmes, and the company owns and operates medical and educational facilities, which a rank among the best in the country. The company has a comprehensive malaria control and HIV/AIDS programmes.
» Go back to the main Zambia page
» See other sponsors for eBizguides Zambia
