KANSANSHI INVESTS FOR INCREASED COPPER PRODUCTION

Kansanshi, a First Quantum operated mine, located in North-Western Zambia, has started investing in 2 large scale oxygen production plants, at an undisclosed cost.

The project has since been awarded to Air Products and Chemicals Incorporation, an American industrial supplies company.

The oxygen plants, which are planned to be on-stream by 2014, will be built at the site of a copper smelter, being built by Kansanshi Mine.

According to a statement from the New York Stock Exchange-listed international company, Air products, the scope of the agreement is for the supply of two 750 metric ton per day oxygen plants, and all air separation unit related equipment and design.

Company Project Manager, Aled Williams has said the construction of the facility will be undertaken by Kansanshi Mine, with cooperation from Air Products.

Air Products already has a history of its presence in the Zambian mining industry, with previous contractual projects at other mining houses.

The investment into the two massive oxygen plants is in anticipation of Kansanshi mine’s plan of increased copper production by 60 %.

The mine plans to increase production to 400,000 metric tonnes by 2015, up from the current 230,000 metric tonnes.