This issue has just become a circus. Regarding the smelter and refinery, we currently have material on site which will continue to be processed until further notice. The Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC) has closed some business houses, including the Shoprite chain store for violating the Covid-19 health guidelines. Speaking … And Musukwa says if the mine goes ahead to lay off over 11,000 workers, it will be met by the full force of the law. This is just one side of the story. I hear companies are falling over each other to buy KCM. The operating, regulatory and macro-economic environments remain very challenging and have continued to place significant pressure on the business. That’s the worst part of the government! Mopani assured that permanent Zambian employees, including those in management, would continue receiving their base salaries for the period the mine would be under care and maintenance. “In the circumstances, and following consultation with its majority shareholder and funder, Mopani can no longer continue operating its mining operations and will transition those mining operations to care and maintenance (C&M) with effect from 8 April. Mr Mulenga said the issues being discussed included failure by the mining firm to give contractors terms of the new contracts. Mopani is one of Glencore’s “focus” assets and a key plank of a wider plan to transform the performance of its African copper unit, which also includes mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mining Disputes. Mopani will work with the local authorities and community leaders on how best it can continue to support its partners in light of the government decrees relating to minimizing the spread of COVID-19.”, Your email address will not be published. Since we are doing such a good job at KCM why not take it over , Since we are doing such a good job at KCM why not take it over so another PF lawyer manages it. Glencore’s Zambian arm Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has decided to resume mining for 90 days, though it it is still planning on putting the operations on hold. Mr Musukwa was responding to Kantanshi Independent Member of Parliament Anthony Mumba who wanted to know what measures the government had employed to prevent job losses at the mine if it was put on care and maintenance. Mopani did indicate that they wanted to put the mine on care and maintenance, which is going to put in excess of 15,000 employees in the streets and the government did reject that proposal because it was inimical to the interests of our people. Does the minister know that in advanced countries, the government is either or both receiving some money from the government to maintain the workforce or reduced the number of workers and suspected projects in order to cope up the effect of COVID 19. Glencore shelved its plans to place the operations under care and maintenance for 90 days, after Zambia threatened to revoke its mining license in … Mr Musukwa, are you an expert in Mining! Are you trying to hold Mopani hostage? SEEK HIPC-STYLE DEBT RELIEF …our treasury’s capacity to issue financial stimulus absolutely limited – Mutati, 2-yr jail for PF cadre who assaulted Petauke journalist elates MISA. According to a Reuters report, the miner's initial decision to place MCM on care and maintenance last month was met with opposition from Zambian government officials. Mopani proceeds to place mines on care and maintenance. The government strategy is driven by a need to safeguard jobs at Mopani, rather than any desire to … All Rights Reserved. Government has rejected the proposal by Mopani Copper Mines to put the mines in Kitwe and Mufulira under care and maintenance. The Drug Enforcement Commission in Lusaka has arrested Seven (7) people who include three (3) University of Zambia (UNZA) third year students for trafficking... About 4,339 people died before reaching the University Teaching Hospital between June and November last year. “…but we expect, permanent Zambian employees (excluding management) will be sent home on their base salary. It is time agricultural activities became the main stay of this nation. Mopani remains committed to supporting its community projects, hospitals and schools during the period of C&M. Your email address will not be published. Glencoe are saying in simpler terms that they are unable to run the mines and you are insisting that they are able! Last week Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Barnaby Mulenga, said discussions were being held between Government and Mopani on the decision to place operations on care and maintenance. The irate miners, who carried placards and sang songs, denounced management for suggesting drastic decisions under the guise of avoiding the spread of Corona virus. MOPANI Copper Mines says the decision to put the mine on care and maintenance starting tomorrow April 8, is as a result of the critical disruptions to international mobility, transportation and supply chains arising from COVID-19. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa says Government has rejected the request by Mopani Copper Mines to place its Mines on care and Maintenance. Copyright © 2017 The Mast. Mopani further stated that it would continue with its commitments and obligations to the workforce and host communities adding that it could continue engaging unions and government regarding the nature and duration of that support. I don’t see it going anywhere. He has been advised to stay in the country until issues of Mopani Copper Mine management’s decisions are clearly understood by government. But government through the Minister of Mines Richard Musukwa has objected to the move by the mining company, daring the Glencore-owned mining giant to leave ‘if they have failed to run the mining operations in Zambia.”. Glencore shelved its plans to place the operations under care and maintenance for 90 days, after Zambia threatened to revoke its mining license in April. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa says Government has rejected the request by Mopani Copper Mines to place its Mines on care and Maintenance. Mopani is saying they want to put the company on Care and maintenance and the government is objecting! Minister of Mines Richard Musukwa said this is because the mining firm has not complied with the law. Home Glencore’s Mopani copper mine moves to care & maintenance Glencore-owned Mopani Copper Mines is to transition its operations to care-and-maintenance status from Wednesday April 8 but will continue to process on-site material at the associated Zambian smelter and refinery until further notice. Don’t you think you are now begging for this investor instead of finding a suitable investor who can run the mines! “If an agreement is reached Mopani will re-start mining operations and issue a notice of its intention to place the mining operations on care and maintenance after 90 days,” Glencore said. Mopani Copper Mines, which produced 119,000 tonnes of copper in 2018, is 73.1% owned by Glencore, 16.9% by First Quantum Minerals and 10% by Zambia’s mining investment arm ZCCM-IH. Mopani Copper Mines, which produced 119,000 tonnes of copper in 2018, is 73.1% owned by Glencore, 16.9% by First Quantum Minerals and 10% by Zambia’s mining investment arm ZCCM-IH. Copper prices are going up, FQM are busy working-so what’s Glencore’s excuse??? Mopani will engage with its employees, contractors and local communities regarding the impact of any operational change. He told Parliament that Mopani cited the unsustainable cost of production and reduced global mobility caused by the coronavirus pandemic as some of the issues that severely disrupted the supply chain making it difficult to access of essential equipment needed for production at the mines. A Mining expert Philasoni Chikwanda has urged government to be thoughtful as it continues to dialogue with Glencore, the majority shareholders of Mopani Copper Mines – MCM following its decision to put the mines on care and maintenance. In a letter dated April 14 to Mopani’s chief executive Nathan Bullock, Mining Licensing Committee secretary Michael Chibonga said Mopani did not … Minority shareholders are spread throughout the world, in various locations. But alert security officials refused him exit and he has been advised to stay in… This measure is over and above what is required by our contractual agreements. SCORES of miners yesterday marched to Mopani Copper Mines general offices in Kitwe to protest over the company’s intention to place the giant mine under care and maintenance. Poor policies. Chewe argued that the reasons given to place the mines on care and maintenance were not convincing and pleaded with government to take the plight of miners in Mopani seriously as the action threatens to shutter the economy of the Copperbelt. Mopani, owned 73.1% by Glencore, is an integrated copper producer located in the Copperbelt of central Zambia. “The ministry is not aware of any event that has happened that is beyond the reasonable control of Mopani Copper Mines and which makes mining impossible,” he said in a statement. Why should the minister not ask Zambians the way out? , Mopani is going it is just a question of time. Mr Musukwa said the Director of Mines has however rejected the request because Mopani did not give convincing reasons for its decision. The Swiss-based commodity and mining company had earlier this year announced its intention to place Mopani on care and maintenance, signalling its desire to exit the Zambian mining sector in response to its escalating operational costs. In addition to the impacts of a rapid decline in the copper price, Mopani’s situation has been further impacted by the critical disruptions to international mobility, transportation and supply chains arising from COVID-19. ZAMBIA’S financial conditions would likely tighten, banks may lose substantial income and declare bankruptcy, the ODI’s International Economic Development Group has warned. Glencore Mopani Copper Mines Prev Post All the open pits are exhausted except “Area Nose” and area J, both of which were placed on care and maintenance in 2019. Mr Musukwa also refuted claims that Government owes Mopani more money in VAT Refunds saying documents from the Zambia Revenue Authority showed that the company owed government more money in other taxes. Mopani Copper Mines has informed all its contractors and suppliers that the mine will only offer a one month contract to each, pending the outcome of the appeal processes against government’s latest rejection of the firm’s proposal to place its mining operations on care and maintenance. Mopani which has shut the mine and placed it under Care and Maintenance has also sent all workers home and terminated employment for those on contracts. KMC Assistant Public Relations... United party For national Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has asked the Human Rights Commission of Zambia to investigate the Extra-judicial killings and gross... Government rejects the request by Mopani Copper Mines to place its... Kitwe United Fuelled For This Weekends Restart of Promotion Race, PF’s Desperation over Bill 10 is Sickening-Mwaliteta, Three UNZA tudents and Four others Arrested for Drug Trafficking, People Allegedly Refusing to get Tested for Covid-19 in Northern Province, Increased Number of Tavern Operators Openly Selling Kachasu raises Concern, DEC rehabilitates 42 ‘70 Babies’ gang members, Chiyangi Laments Another Eagles Continental Exit, Over 4,000 BIDs recorded at UTH between June and November, Kabwe Shoprite, Zambeef temporarily closed for violating Covid-19 guidelines, HH asks Human Human Rights Commission to investigate Gross Human Rights Violations by the State police. Mopani believes that the transition to C&M will help protect the company’s value and preserve the option to deliver our growth projects when market conditions improve.”. Impacted unionised contractor employees will receive an ex gratia payment. Mopani will remain committed to its CSR projects,” stated Mopani. The Nkana Mine produces copper and cobalt ore from four sources: North Shaft, Mindola Sub Vertical, Central Shaft and South Ore Body (“SOB”). I find that the minister has no solution to Mopani. RELATED FEATURED Mopani Copper GLENCORE was in discussions with the Zambian government regarding plans to place the firm’s Mopani Copper Mines on care and maintenance. Zambia said on Tuesday that Glencore has declared “force majeure” and will shut its copper mines in the country, adding that the government would block the move which would result in 11,000 people losing their jobs.. Mines Minister Richard Musukwa said Glencore plans to put its Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) operations under “care and maintenance” for three months from Tuesday as the … Zambia intends to revoke the mining licenses of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), a subsidiary of Glencore, as the firm did not give sufficient notice before suspending its mining operations due to the coronavirus Covid-19 crisis. Mopani allegedly did not give sufficient notice to the government before the mines were kept on care and maintenance. The world’s biggest commodities trader will instead give the government the legally required 90 days notice before placing its Mopani Copper Mines unit under care and maintenance… Mr Musukwa said government has also rejected an attempt by the Mining firm to give it less than 24 hours’ notice to lay off more than 11,000 workers. Employees and their dependents will continue to receive healthcare. In an analysis of ‘Zambia’s debt payment... Unpacking M&E with Dr Kanyamuna: uses and cost of M&E Information, Electoral commission to provide logistics on prison campaigns – ZCS, Absa Zambia donates K724,000 towards COVID crisis, PEP to unveil ‘alternative’ ERP on Jan 21, Woman living with albinism recounts rejection by her family, Advertising: advertising@themastonline.com, General inquiries: info@themastonline.com. “Mopani Copper Mines Plc held a number of meetings with Government Ministries on 6 April 2020 in which it provided an update of its comprehensive operational review. “If an agreement is reached Mopani will re-start mining operations and issue a notice of its intention to place the mining operations on care and maintenance after 90 days,” Glencore said. Mopani sends workers on mandatory leave, proceeds on care and maintenance By Speedwell Mupuchi on April 9, 2020 MOPANI Copper Mines yesterday gave out letters sending workers on mandatory leave in view of operation difficulties made worse by the coronavirus. 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