Lumwana, Mopani part

LUMWANA Mining Company has cancelled its concentrate sale and purchase agreements with Mopani Copper Mines and Glencore International because of technical differences on the concentrates produced by Lumwana.

Lumwana managing director, Harry Michael said in Solwezi April 21 that the agreement was cancelled after Mopani smelter in Mufulira could not accept Lumwana's concentrates saying they did not meet technical specification.

“There is now no agreement with Mopani, it was cancelled,” Mr Michael said of the five-year-year agreement signed with Mopani and Glencore for balance of Lumwana concentrate.

While Mopani and Glencore said that Lumwana concentrate did not meet contract specifications, Lumwana maintained that its concentrates were within contract specifications. Mr Michael, whose mine was recently commissioned by President Rupiah Banda, said Lumwana was now taking its concentrates to Chambishi Copper Smelter and other sources.

Meanwhile, Lumwana says it expects to finally receive the surface rights from Government this week following recent fruitful discussions with Lands Minster, Peter Daka.