President Lungu In Mazabuka Today For Munali Nickel Mine Re-Opening

President Lungu will be in Mazabuka today on a working visit. ZANIS released a programmed outlining his trip to the Southern Province, where he will be visiting the Munali Nickel Mine that has been closed for a number of years due to care and maintenance issues.

Consolidated Nickel Mines (CNM), a UK based firm acquired the rights to operate the mine from owners Jinchuan Group (China) in 2014. Since then they have invested US$55 million to revive the nickel mine.

After successfully securing re-start finance in the order of US$40million, the decision was taken in June 2018 to bring the mine back into production with the first ore production planned for quarter one, 2019. All key personnel have since been recruited.

The recommencement of mining and processing activities is expected to impact 400 direct jobs while an estimated 350 indirect jobs will be created through contractors, subcontractors and spill over effects as a result of operations at the mine.