By JAMES KUNDA? –

LUBAMBE Copper Mine increased its annual production by more than 8,000 tonnes in the full mining year ended June 30, 2014, shareholders have disclosed.
African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) executive chairperson Patrice Motsepe said in the full mining year ended June 30, 2014, Lubambe produced 23, 791 tonnes of copper compared to 14, 871 tonnes of the metal produced during the same period of 2013.
Mr Motsepe said in a production report posted on the ARM website that this represented an improvement of 60 per cent in the production figures.
‘‘The Lubambe Mine continued with its production ramp-up and produced 23, 791 tonnes of copper in the full year 2014 compared to 14, 871 tonnes in 2013 as it aims to reach a production target of 45,000 tonnes finished copper in 2016,’’ Mr Motsepe said.
Mr Motsepe said among the developments since the mine commenced operations in 2010 was the commissioning of the main vertical shaft in November 2013.??He said after commissioning, however, throughput constraints were experienced in the refurbished shaft rock pass systems as well as through the main tips at the East Decline.??Mr Motsepe said the rock pass systems were, however, corrected to facilitate better flows at the vertical shaft and a mineral sizer was installed at the main ore tip of the East Decline to cater for the slabbing nature of the ore encountered in stopping operations.??‘‘By 30 June 2014, 1, 558, 390 tonnes of copper bearing ore had been milled which was 49 per cent higher than the previous year and yielded 23, 791 tonnes of copper which was 60 per cent more than in the full year-2013,’’ Mr Motsepe said.??He said operational efficiency and equipment utilisation are receiving the required level of attention to improve output and reduce unit costs and other project capital work regarding outstanding underground and surface infrastructure work was completed on schedule and within budget.??Lubambe mine is co-owned by ARM and Vale Mining of Brazil, with both firms owning 40 per cent shares, while the remaining 20 per cent is owned by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).