KENYA
Lafarge under antitrust probe
Kenya’s antitrust authority may force Lafarge to sell some of its interests if the cement maker is found to be flouting domestic competition rules, according to the agency’s head. The Competition Authority of Kenya is investigating the French firm’s influence on the country’s cement industry through its 59 percent shareholding in Bamburi Cement and 42 percent stake in East Africa Portland Cement (EAPCC). The findings would be published next month. – Bloomberg
ZAMBIA
Court prevents mine power cut
Konkola Copper Mines has won a court order preventing its power supplier from cutting services over a disputed bill. An interruption would create “a serious flooding incident, which would result in permanent ruining of the mine investment worth billions of dollars”, the Zambian unit of Vedanta Resources had said in papers before the high court in Lusaka. It might also result in “massive loss of life” to more than 5 000 underground shift workers. Copperbelt Energy Corporation threatened to cut off electricity unless the mining company settled payment. – Bloomberg