By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
MOPANI Copper Mines (MCM) will renew its partnership with Zambia Metal Fabricators (ZAMEFA) to enhance local value addition.
This is in line with Government’s strategy of encouraging local processing of resources.
MCM chief executive officer Danny Callow said the mining company was committed to supporting local business development by creating an environment that enabled local companies to do business in a cordial atmosphere, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country.
The two companies have enjoyed over 14 years of cordial business relations that have contributed significantly to Zambia’s economic growth.
Mopani has been selling part of its London Metal Exchange-listed copper cathodes to ZAMEFA, which uses the copper for producing copper rods, copper shapes, bare copper earth wires, building wires, low voltage power cables, flexible cables, telecommunication wire and other copper products.
ZAMEFA in return supplies Mopani with locally-manufactured, high quality electrical cables.
“The partnership between Mopani and ZAMEFA demonstrates that there is enormous potential for the local manufacturing industry to grow given the correct business environment,” Mr Callow said in a statement.
ZAMEFA chief financial officer Johann Duplessis described the partnership with Mopani as a successful model of local value addition in copper production saying it has enabled the company to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
“Every year, ZAMEFA buys around 15,000 metric tonnes of copper cathodes from Mopani. We use these to produce various copper products.
“We then supply Mopani with around 150 tonnes per annum of high quality locally manufactured electric cables,” Mr Duplessis said.
Between January 2013 and June 2014, Mopani bought in excess of US$ 6 million worth of electrical cables from ZAMEFA.
“As we invest in more projects, these volumes are expected to grow,” Mr Duplessis said
ZAMEFA’s products are marketed within Zambia to commercial, mining and Industrial consumers and internationally across sub-Saharan Africa, India and Hong Kong, among others.