Vedanta’s Africa Base Metals CEO Deshnee Naidoo has provided an update on African operations and reiterated that her focus will be to create deeper synergies for the company’s operations in South Africa, Zambia and Namibia to ensure sustainable growth across the region.
Ms Naidoo told journalists in Lusaka that the priority at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), where she is the new CEO, will be to target integrated copper production at 200,000 metric tones in the current financial year (2018/19) from just under 100,000 metric tones in the previous year.
Ms Naidoo said she would cement the ‘basic building blocks’ set up by the departing KCM CEO Mr Steven Din, in order to produce more copper cathodes in support of the 50-year vision for Vedanta Resources to continue mining for copper in Zambia.
Ms Naidoo commented that, “My job is to stabilise the business at base level, to ensure reliable production and make sure that we can reach the ultimate 400,000 tonnes production level of integrated growth within the next few years”.
“KCM has an attractive orebody and major capital in excess of $3 billion has already been invested. Our strategy with business partners is about creating shared value amongst stakeholders, the employees, the government and the communities”, she said in reference to technical business partners KCM has engaged to assist with mining, water management at the Konkola Deep mine and equipment maintenance in the company.
Ms Naidoo said KCM and the other African operations would continue to mine within a context of environmental protection. The planting of 89,000 trees in the last 13 years in communities and schools in the Copperbelt region and KCM plant areas, and the removal of 500,000 metric tones silt in 2017 from the Muntimpa Dam and streams within Chingola town is the assurance of the KCM Go Green initiatives. The company is also providing fresh drinking water through solar-powered boreholes to over 8,000 people in Chingola.
Ms Naidoo said plans to invest $300 million in a 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in southern Zambia were on course following the commencement of a pre-feasibility study. The proposed plant would support KCM growth at the Konkola deep mine, the setting up of a cobalt refinery and other growth projects.
She also said Vedanta Africa Base Metals was looking at constructing another power plant at the Gamsberg project in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.
“In South Africa, we are looking at building a Zinc refinery. Smelters and refineries are power-hungry and so as part of that scope we are looking at a 200 megawatt power plant, it will be an integrated plant, using both renewable energy and coal-fired power” Ms Naidoo said.
Production is set to start at Gamsberg within a month, and the mine should ramp up to full production of 250,000 tonnes annually in about a year.
Giving an update on Skorpion Zinc operations in Namibia, Ms Naidoo said that the option of underground mining at the mine when the company’s open-pit operations become exhausted around 2020 were slim.
“We have drilled it out and it is looking less likely that there will be another underground mine, but the other option is to look at whether after this current push back we can do mining through a decline to extract whatever else we can get,” she said.
“As it stands, we might only extend life for another 2-3 three years through a decline or open pit”.
Ms Naidoo said there were numerous opportunities across Africa Base Metals’ operational geographies to sustain the company and communities in its areas of operations.
Thanks LT for this , growing our GDP and building Zambia is where our focus should be and away from the daily cancer of our toxic politics.Politicking 24/7 hurts Zambia.
These increased productions don’t seem to do us any good the prices of copper have been high and production increased in recent times yet we barely have 2 year import cover in our reserves and some chap still thinks he can discuss this issue without bringing in politics and the current leadership ?? You must be delusional if you cannot connect issues
Okay, so a leap from 100,000 tonnes/yr to 200,000 tonnes/ yr will mean;
a. 100% salary increment for workers? Or
B. Total staff complement increasing by 100%?, or
C. Doubling the number and value of social responsibility projects in areas of operation? Or D. Better sponsorship of Konkola Blades? Or
E. ZRA will collect higher revenues from KCM?
I hope those guys at FQM in Solwezi can see what wearing PPE is ….you don’t compromise on PPE just because it a President visiting you everyone has to wear it for safety!!
WORDS AND MORE WORDS.
WHAT DOES SHE KNOW ABOUT MINING?
VEDANTA HAVE MISMANAGED OUR MINES THROUGH USING ACCOUNTANTS AS CEOs.
Go girl,
You did a sterling job at Gemsbok in Black Mountain
…change the culture of not paying contractors and suppliers, it has been pathetic to say the least
Just mere politicking and pure propaganda by the Indians.
Some fresh air here! News worth reading ????
I am sure the laughable dieseae is coming soon! Run! All the Best Mr. President! All the best Zambia!
What will you leave for the next generation ? Only debt.
The Indians will make sure they squeeze exert grain of copper you have.
Every
Today I agree with Spaka like lilo I shall never ever trust Indians. Anyone that fights with their own people, Paskistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis for no aparent reason can not be a friend of Africa. We as Africans need to build our own revenue and industries. Time for international investors should be brought to an end.
Soory I just have a problem with Vedanta and its owner Argawal, too deceitful. Looking at allthp oromises Vedanta have made to Zambia surely we can still be talking about KCM producing 200,000 tons of copper in 2018? And the 400,000 tons should have been achieved ten years for God’s sake!!!
Madame Naidoo is finally in from Mumbai to check on her slaves to make sure the work twice as hard so she can send money to Lord Anil in India!!
Correction JJ,
She’s South African born and bred.
Has a degree in metallurgy and diplomas in accountancy.
She worked as metallurgist/finance manager/environmental manager, all the attributes required the rectify KCM, and its tarnished public image!
Mushota will not be impressed with such credentials
Hiral – Vedanta H/q is located in Mumbai India that’s why I mentioned it and she has a Degree in Chemical engineering and a and a certificate in finance and administration. She has the Indian connection alright since she looks up to her Indian Chairman Anil and wants to meet the Indian PM…
Jay Jay I am on your side on this, Anil Arwal is a crook period. Her ancestry is Indian. She has more ties to India than Africa. Did she celebrate African freedom day with the rest of God’s children on the continent, or does she hold her heritage above ours? Answer these simple questions. Africans wake up.
The late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was a fool to sell KCM at a song of 24 million Us dollars.Vendetta recovered the money within 6 months from the copper sales.Now Manchester City Football Club bought an individual player Emmanuel Adebayor at 24 million US dollars.KCM comprises of Nchanga, Konkola, & Nampundwe.This includes several assets; Nchanga and Konkola Stadia, Nchanga South & Konkola Mine Hospitals and more than 6 clinics.Rugby stadium, Mine clubs, Consort avenue houses,unknown buildings and houses, trust schools,bowling clubs, golf club,and many more not excluding the workers; engineers, doctors, operators, accountants, lawyers. teacher and many more.NOW USE LOGIC and THINK OF IT!!!The guy was literally a sleeping douchiebag jerk.
The late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was a fool to sell KCM at a song of 24 million Us dollars.Vendetta recovered the money within 6 months from the copper sales.Now Manchester City Football Club bought an individual player Emmanuel Adebayor at 24 million US dollars. KCM comprises of Nchanga, Konkola, and Nampundwe. This includes several assets,Nchanga and Konkola Stadia, Nchanga South and Konkola Mine Hospitals and more than 6 clinics.Rugby stadium, Mine clubs, Consort avenue houses,unknown buildings and houses, trust schools,bowling clubs, golf club,and many more not excluding the workers; engineers, doctors, operators, accountants, lawyers, teacher and many more. NOW USE LOGIC and THINK OF IT! The guy was literally a sleeping douchiebag jerki.
Anil never recovered any money as he used the same money from sale of copper he dug out to pay GRZ.
to rectify
I would rather do business with former britiish interlopers than KCM’s Anil. THe British built and actually trained locals to work, the chinese and indians bring in their kind to further milk our lands.
As crazy as Arabs are, they are actually a better trade partner to Africa in the modern world. They let you work and run businesses in the Arab world. Tell me about a CEO of African origin in India.
I don’t think an African can find a job in India. They come to Africa with racism and expecting Indians to employee an African in their country would be too much. I know them.
Fact of the matter is… she is your Bwana. No amount of cheap comments changes that fact.
The mines were nationalised off whites. They were never black initiated. No black zambian has EVER put up a mine in his own country.
In 50 years of independence you still cannot even make toothpicks in your own country
Why blane the success of others when its your own sheer laziness and internal jealousy that keeps you poor !
Say it like this….Bwana Naidoo
Does she suck dictionary?
Yes she does, and takes dictations also
Heard these stories for over 15 years! You do not just increase production and jump to those numbers! Kikiki, anyway!
Comment: i guess she is not the first CEO to come..those have been stories from everyone who comes to increase production but yet cut off jobs for other workers then whats the aim of increasing the production when even you fail to pay salaries to your own football team
check the salary compared to Zambians who will be feeding her with information
She can’t manage KCM. It’s not for the faint hearted. KCM is a big problem and I think Steven Din just decided to run away. He’s been strong though because I thought he was going to run away after a year. There’s no investment in that company especially in mining.