Ban on raw mineral export

Zambia, Africa’s number two copper producer, plans to introduce a law banning the export of unfinished mineral products, its minister of mines said on Friday. “We want to curb the unnecessary export of unfinished mineral products. We need to get all exports beneficiated in the country and this will come into effect very soon,” Christopher Yaluma told a mining and energy conference. Yaluma said a lot of copper was being exported without being fully processed and that was denying Zambians jobs that would have been created had mining firms invested in processing plants. He said the government had been talking about local processing for a long time, hence the decision to compel mining companies to do so. He said local processing would also ensure proper accountability of mineral exports. – Reuters