Lusaka - Canada's First Quantum Minerals on Friday launched production at its $2.1 billion copper Sentinel mine which has been under construction since June 2012.
The mine would produce 280 000 to 300 000 tons of copper per year at full production from one large low-grade ore body containing 0.51 percent copper, First Quantum said.
Ramp up to commercial production levels at Sentinel was expected to begin after state power utility Zesco connected electricity to the mine by September, it said.
Although this year and next would be challenging for many mines in Zambia and globally due to low commodity prices, First Quantum hoped to overcome that by improving efficiency, it said.
“The planned 55 000 000 tons per annum ore throughput at the new Sentinel mine necessitates the latest in modern mining methods,” it said.
At full production Sentinel would employ 1 788 employees directly through First Quantum subsidiary Kalumbila Minerals and a further 1 276 contractor jobs created by the new mine, it said.
REUTERS