Luanshya copper mine in Zambia

Luanshya, Zambia --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 23 December 2009 - China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation has announced that it has  resumed output at the Luanshya copper mine in Zambia, and adds that it aims to produce 20 000 metric tonnes of finished copper next year.

Revealing this to reporters at the mine here, CEO Luo Xiangeng said the company planned to increase output to about 40 000 tonnes during the next five years. The mine has a current throughput of about 5 000 tonnes of ore a day.

Production at Luanshya was halted in December 2008 after copper prices plunged, and ownership of the company was subsequently transferred to the government.

The mine was previously owned by Enya Holdings BV, which is jointly controlled by Beny Steinmetz Group Resources and International Mineral Resources BV, both of the Netherlands.

China Non-Ferrous paid US$450 million (R3.3 billion) for the mine, according to the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.