By MILDRED KATONGO –
KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue mining in Zambia under its flagship ore body in Chililabombwe.

. Agarwal

Vedanta Resources chairperson Anil Agarwal said KCM will survive the current challenges and is determined to take the mining firm forward.
Mr Agarwal informed employees that the main focus at the moment was to survive the challenges and urged workers to continue working hard and being innovative.
He said this when he addressed more than 300 KCM employees as a part of a global town hall meeting.
This is contained in a statement released by KCM public relations and communications manager Shapi Shachinda.
“Vedanta’s 50-year vision to continue mining in Zambia would be fulfilled, underpinned by the world-class and high-grade ore body at the flagship Konkola Mine in Chililabombwe. Our main intention at the moment is to survive the current challenges. It is all about our determination to take our company forward. You need to work hard, cut costs and increase production. We have to be innovative,” he said.
Mr Agarwal said Vedanta subsidiaries, including KCM, would continue to nurture young people into positions of leadership.
He said the company would also promote the ascendancy of women into leadership positions as it seeks to expand its asset portfolio as a diversified global resources company.
“I encourage all of you to remain ambitious for success, humble and hardworking. To find and recognise talent is the most important thing for us,” he said.
“Our success will be based on trust and honesty. I have seen a great passion from our employees at KCM and there is also great potential.
He said the company had done everything possible to develop the assets by investing more than $3 billion in processing plants and the mines.
Vedanta chief executive officer Tom Albanese, who is also KCM chairperson, reiterated that a strong foundation had been created at KCM.
“There is so much enthusiasm about copper mining in Zambia. Everyone is passionate about the KCM 50-year vision,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese said that companies which emerge strong from the downturn in mining are those that inevitably benefit most from the return to higher commodity prices.
“This is not the first time we have faced these challenges. I am optimistic we will come out stronger,” he said.