By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Government has completed a technical audit of mining companies on the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces to ascertain the feasibility of reviving operations in the industry.
This is amidst low copper prices and intermittent electricity supply.

. YALUMA

Mines and Minerals Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said in an interview yesterday that the audit findings had been presented to him and would be forwarded to President Edgar Lungu prior to a public announcement.
Some of the mining firms that were audited are Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) and Chibuluma Mines.
First Quantum Mining Limited (FQM) mining operations in Solwezi were also visited.
“We had dispatched a team of technical experts to audit the mines and the process has been concluded and the findings have been presented to my office.
“These findings will be presented to the President before I can issue a statement on the next step,” Mr Yaluma said.
The Government has continued to enhance negotiations with mine owners and employee unions to ensure that jobs in the sector are secure.
Mr Yaluma said the move was not intended at only curtailing employee retrenchments, but also to ensure that mine operations were sustained in awe of the prevailing global economic environment.
“As it is right now, negotiations with the mines have intensified because we want to support the industry and ensure that loss of jobs does not continue in any form.
“We do sympathise with the plight of our people who have lost jobs in the mines and very soon I will be making a pronouncement on the way forward for the retired employees,” Mr Yaluma said.
The minister assured the nation that everything possible was being done to void the impending job cuts at FQM’s Sentinel Mine in Solwezi.
“FQM are in dialogue with the Ministry of Energy over the power issues surrounding Sentinel Mine and let me assure the nation that everything possible is being done to ensure that miners are not discharged,” Mr Yaluma said.