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Chinese-owned NFC Africa mine denies gold mining at Chambishi copper mine
NFC Africa Mining Plc (NFCA), a Chinese-owned
Picture: Zambian Business Times
NFC Africa Mining Plc (NFCA), a Chinese-owned mining company operating in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, has denied involvement in gold mining at its Chambishi Copper Mine and smelter.
The company clarified its position following a recent official minerals report that omitted gold from its listed products, despite previous reports that included it alongside copper.
NFCA is majority-owned by China Non-ferrous Metals Company Limited (CNMC), holding an 85% stake, while ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) owns the remaining 15%.
The omission of gold in the latest mineral production reports has raised questions regarding its status at the Chambishi operation. In response to inquiries from the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Dean Mwelwa, Assistant General Manager at NFCA, emphasized that the company does not actively mine gold.
“Gold production at NFCA is not significant. At Chambishi, gold may occasionally appear as a negligible by-product due to the ore type, but it is not economically viable nor a primary focus for us,” Mwelwa stated. Previously, some officials indicated that gold was reported as a by-product of copper mining, but current reports no longer reflect this. Mwelwa further clarified, “While traces of gold exist in the ore, the quantities are minimal and not commercially recoverable.”
This clarification comes amid industry scrutiny over mineral reporting practices and transparency in Zambia’s mining sector.
Article by Tyndale Muchiya
Source: Zambian Business Times — Read more
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