By JAMES KUNDA-
THE Government has allocated 300 hectares of land for the construction of tailing dams and the sinking of an underground shaft by NFCA Mining Plc in Mufulira which will create 5,000 jobs.
Mufulira District commissioner Chanda Kabwe said in a statement in Ndola that NFCA Mining, a subsidiary of China Non-ferrous Metals, has invested US$832 million in the project dubbed the South East Ore Body (SEOB).
Mr Kabwe said the mineral reserves on the SEOB lie between 550 metres and 1,200 metres underground and would be accessed by the sinking of a shaft with the initial investment capital already sourced from the World Bank.
“The company is committed to uplift the living standards of people through this massive investment in mining, hence the decision to give it 300 hectares for the construction of the tailing dams and sinking of an underground shaft, which will provide enormous employment opportunities for the Zambians,” he said.
Mr Kabwe said the project is expected to take five years, with 1000 jobs expected to be created during the construction stage, while the commencement of full production will bring the total number of local employees to 5,000.
Mr Kabwe said the Government was committed to see that the citizens of Zambia benefit from the jobs and wealth being created in the mining sector.
“The investment range of NFCA Mining and the cordial working relationship the company has with the Government will ensure that the Zambians, especially those living in the mining belt amass full benefits,” he said.
The SEOB project is expected to start soon following approval by the Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) and the affected farmers will be relocated to another area where accommodation and other social amenities would be built for them.
“The affected overall number of farmers is 87 and they have accepted to be relocated to a new land, as they will be compensated by the mining firm after their property has been valued,” Mr Kabwe said.