Kalumbila, where FQM’s(First Quantum Mines’) giant $2.1-billion Sentinel mine is located in Zambia’s North-Western province, is perhaps the world’s first mining town designed not to depend on the mine that it currently hosts.
That’s according to an article posted today on the website www.miningforzambia.com.
Some $200-million has been invested in building Kalumbila and making it a viable commercial destination in its own right. When Sentinel mine reaches the end of its working life in about 20 years’ time, it is intended that Kalumbila will not only survive, but thrive.
The town’s airport runway is already the country’s second-longest, and can easily handle mid-size regional jets. When the runway eventually reaches its full design length of 4 km, it will be the longest in the country.
“This will eventually become a major business and tourism hub. Airlines from Angola, South Africa and other countries will be able to fly straight into Kalumbila to drop off passengers and cargo, or simply to re-fuel,” says Michael Kabungo, Town Services Coordinator for the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation.
Kalumbila intends to rival the established Copperbelt town of Kitwe in size and scope by 2050. Several companies have already moved operations to Kalumbila’s industrial zone, attracted by its planned tax incentives, its infrastructure and growth potential, and the proximity of Congo and Angola as export markets. ME Elecmetal, a leading Chilean mine supplier, has concluded a contract with Sentinel mine to construct a multimillion-dollar plant to manufacture high-quality steel mill-balls.
Kalumbila was driven by Gehl Architects, a Danish urban-design consultancy which has worked in more than 250 cities globally. The town was designed around a handful core principles, such as protecting and using nature (minimal environmental disturbance); creating a good foundation for everyday life (priority to walking and cycling); and ensuring the town can grow by attracting private investment (creating infrastructure and incentives for businesses).
To stimulate home-ownership by residents, an innovative rent-to-buy scheme allows a portion of the rent to go towards buying the house; after 14 years, ownership is transferred. To encourage private investment and land acquisition, Kalumbila is owned by the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation, not the mine. It is envisaged that Kalumbila will eventually be classified as an independent town within the larger District, with autonomy to run its own affairs, and ensure revenue raised locally is spent locally.
The viability of Kalumbila is a major reason why highly skilled mining personnel, from the Copperbelt and abroad, relocate their families to this remote corner of Zambia.
However, the measure of Kalumbila’s success is not what it looks like now, but what it will look like in 20 years, when Sentinel eventually closes down. By then, Kalumbila will need to be big enough, and diversified enough, to stand on its own two feet. That means investment, private capital and new businesses.
Despite challenges, the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation is positive and forging ahead. Its view is that success is the best way to silence sceptics. “We will continue to develop Kalumbila and grow its economic base to the point where both government and investors are forced to take notice,” says Kabungo.
Mubwato…… emotuli
Its positive move. However its sad to note that a lot of works are done by their friends from S.A. things which can be done by us locals
@Twende, we zambians are to blame
As an end user I can tell that the guys in supply department cost the mines quite a lot by over charging on purchases in order to earn some kick backs. A ZAMBIAN was appointed General Manager at Chibuluma. This small mine was a high flier but soon as he was appointed he got rid of all management staff and replaced them with his friends some of who had criminal backgrounds
Also he increased the number of managers
He created fake contracts for his friends
In the end the mine started to do less than half of its call resulting in job losses. Right now it’s reported that he’s sold land meant for miners to the Jerabos
Wow! This is wonderful. Those trees are just fantastic. Im sure these clever guys wont chop them unneccessarily. How can I buy land in Kalumbila?
Cutting trees, killing snakes and other animals is dismissable offense at Kalumbila. Simply put : leave the jungle alone.
Jan Gehl is a fantastic urban designer and planner and if the oldman`s office is involved your assured quality in the work
Chawama. All the credit to Frederick Chiluba for liberalising the economy!
please no finger pointing the expariate foreign employees of kalumbila are racist selfish the question is who grants them work permits for job’s that can be done by locals. one thing for sure Zambians don’t love themselves we are always telling on each other. the pulling him down syndrome is at play most of times. naturally foreigners take advantage of our disunity.
Is the airport being referred to in Kalumbila itself of is it Solwezi airport? If it Solwezi Airport, then this difference should be made clear. From my understanding of the area, Kalumbila lies on the outskirts, actually quite some distance, from central Solwezi. My understanding is that Kalumbila once fully developed would be the newest town in Zambia but more dependent on Solwezi, just like Kalulushi is to Kitwe.
I just read the article in the referenced magazine and I was actually way off the mark in my comment above. Kalumbila is indeed a new boom town about 100km northwest of Solwezi and its airport WILL be the largest in another 10-15years’ time. All this development has come about during MMD/PF government rule. What else do the people of NW want when all they need is right on their doorstep. Do not blame the govt for your own failures at local govt and traditional govt level.
exactly what share holders want to hear…but what is the reality for the indigenous Lunda people under H.R.H Senior Chief Musele?have their lives been made better by the coming of Kalumbila?the answer is a big NO!!Their ancestral land is now under a wire fence, they can nolonger access their traditional fields,the can not even pick mushrooms or the risk being arrested for tresspassing.Furthermore, the see the green golf course being serviced by automated water sprinklers while they do not have any clean running water.Can we expect them to celebrate the $200m investment?Far from it…their lives are worse off so this is a celebration for the elite but a sad state of affairs for the locals
This seems to be an exciting project, and my heart warms at the care and consideration being given to the environmental aspects.
Quick question. Why would there be a need for an airport with a 4km length runway?
Why do they need a military grade runway of 4miles ? …smell a rat !!