Zambian copper production rises

Lusaka, Zambia — MININGREVIEW.COM — 22 April 2010 – First-quarter copper production in Zambia “’ Africa’s largest producer of the metal “’ rose to 174 407 tonnes, compared with 170 948 tonnes produced in the corresponding period of last year, according to the country’s central bank.

A statistical report from the Bank of Zambia released here also revealed that copper exports in the first quarter rose to 173 421 tonnes from 153 306 tonnes exported during the same period last year.

The bank report went on to state that cobalt output in the three months to 31 March 2010 had jumped to 1 921 tonnes from 1 081 tonnes last year, while exports of cobalt had increased to 1 905 tonnes from the 1 251 tonnes exported during the first quarter of 2009.

Total Zambian copper production in 2009 was slightly below 700 000 tonnes, and it is hoped that output this year will top the 800 000 tonne mark.