By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Government recorded payments of more than K9 billion from mining companies countrywide in 2015, a Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) summary for that year has revealed.
According to the report, of the K9 billion, Copper and Cobalt producers contributed K7.8 billion, calculated as 86 percent.
The report said the other extractive companies, such as those producing cement contributed K0.6 billion of 7 percent of the total amount.
On copper production statistics, First Quantum Minerals (FQM)’S Kansanshi mine in Solwezi topped the pile with more than 200,000 tonnes, followed by Lumwana mine with just below 150,000 tonnes.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) were third with just more than 100,000 tonnes, a feat also achieved by Mopani which was fourth on the list.
Luanshya and Kalumbila mines; hovered around the 50,000 tonnes mark, while China Non-Ferrous Cooperation Africa (NFCA), Lubambe, Chibuluma and Sino Metals were below 50,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, Zambia Chamber of Mines president Nathan Chishimba has welcomed an analysis by a United States (US) research institute that dismissed as not ‘credible’ a claim that Zambia was losing US$3 billion annually through tax avoidance by the mines.
“We at the Chamber of Mines have consistently argued that these claims of tax avoidance are simply not credible and it is heartening to see an independent study reach the same conclusion,” Mr Chishimba said.
The analysis Mr Chishimba was referring to was done by Maya Forstater, a researcher and advisor on business and sustainable development.
Ms Forstater is a visiting fellow at the US-based research institute dubbed Centre for Global Development (CGD).
Her analysis was published on the CGD website under the title: ‘Stop spreading the myth: Zambia is not losing $3 billion to tax avoidance’.