By MILDRED KATONGO –
MOPANI Copper Mine (MCM) has set aside US$1.1 billion to complete the construction of the new Synclinorium, Mindola  and Mufulira Deep mine shafts, which is a further boost for job creation on the Copperbelt.
MCM chief executive officer Johan Jansen said the mining firm was fully committed to the future of the mine’s operations.
Mr Jansen also said the mining company had embarked on a programme to equip its employees with information through an industrial play depicting its commitment to turning the mining company into a world-class mining operation.
This followed the successful launch of ‘The Mopani Way’ industrial theatre last month.
‘The Mopani Way’ industrial theatre presentation was an effective means of disseminating the company’s ambitious 10-year journey to becoming a world-class copper producer by reducing costs and increasing production in a safe and sustainable manner.
He said the focus was on investing in people and infrastructure, which entailed adequately training its employees and improving their work culture.
That would be coupled with investment in excess of $1.1 billion to sink three new shafts with new technology that would extend the life of the mine by over 25 years.
This was contained in a statement released by MCM public relations manager Nebert Mulenga yesterday.
Mr Jansen said the programme would start with all the employees and later extended to contractors and stakeholders in the mine operations.
“We are fully committed to the future of Mopani and are pleased that since 2000, our major shareholder, Glencore, has invested US$3.04 billion in upgrading infrastructure and in major capital expansion programmes.
“A further US$1.1 billion has been earmarked to complete the construction of our new Synclinorium, Mindola and Mufulira Deep mine shafts,” he said.
Mr Jansen said ultimately, the company’s intention was to change the way it does things.
“We cannot expect to produce different or better results if we keep doing things in the same way we have done in the past. This change of our value system and work ethic is the basic message in ‘The Mopani Way,” he said.
He said the play was expected to turn the company into a profitable, sustainable and world-class mining operation by 2023.
Mr Jansen believed that the mine would be able to overcome the challenges it was facing and become profitable and operationally-efficient for the benefit of all the stakeholders.
He also said that through ‘The Mopani Way’ play, it would be able to formulate company values which were necessary to enable it change the way it does things.
The mine believes that with the right attitude and as a united workforce it could enhance safety, competence and motivation towards a common goal.