Kalukundi Mine
Encyclopedia
Kalukundi Mine is a copper and cobalt mine being developed in Katanga Province
, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by Africo Resources
, a Canadian company. In September 2008 the company estimated the value of the resource as $1.47 billion.
(25%).
In 2007 there was an ownership dispute when a DRC company named Akam Mining claimed it had bought control of Swanmines, and this claim was upheld in a superior court in Lubumbashi
. In September 2007 from DRC justice minister Georges Minsay Booka
directed Gécamines to take note that Akam Mining had no stake in the property.
Following a government review of all Katanga mining contracts, in February 2009 Africo Resources made an agreement with the DRC government and Gécamines for amended terms for the project.
of Katanga Province, 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) west of the Tenke Fungurume Mine and 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) by road from Kolwezi
. A major power line runs through the south of the Kalukundi area. The Kolwezi-Likasi railway runs 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of the property.
An initial feasibility study was conducted between May 2004 and May 2006. Drilling indicated a reserve of 7.8 million tonnes of ore grading 2.44% copper and 0.69% cobalt in oxides at a depth of 40 metres (131.2 ft) to 130 metres (426.5 ft).
This was considered a conservative estimate of resources.
Ore would be extracted by a contractor using conventional open pit selective exploitation, with multiple pits and multiple cut-back to ensure a steady supply of ore.
A revised study was commissioned in June 2011 to investigate a 50% higher rate of ore production, and to take into account the much higher metal prices.
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by Africo Resources
Africo Resources
Africo Resources is a Canadian mining company whose main property is the copper and cobalt Kalukundi Mine in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.-Company profile:...
, a Canadian company. In September 2008 the company estimated the value of the resource as $1.47 billion.
Ownership
The property is owned by Swanmines, which is jointly owned by Africo Resources (75%) and the state-owned KaluminesKalumines
Kalumines is a copper mining property that includes the Kasonta, Lupoto and Niamumenda concessions, with a combined area of . It is about northwest of Lubumbashi in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.-Start-up:...
(25%).
In 2007 there was an ownership dispute when a DRC company named Akam Mining claimed it had bought control of Swanmines, and this claim was upheld in a superior court in Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
. In September 2007 from DRC justice minister Georges Minsay Booka
Georges Minsay Booka
Georges Minsay Booka is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was Minister of Justice in the first and second cabinets of the Gizenga government, from February to November 2007....
directed Gécamines to take note that Akam Mining had no stake in the property.
Following a government review of all Katanga mining contracts, in February 2009 Africo Resources made an agreement with the DRC government and Gécamines for amended terms for the project.
Location
The Kalukundi project is in the Kolwezi DistrictKolwezi District
Kolwezi District is a district located in the Katanga Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
of Katanga Province, 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) west of the Tenke Fungurume Mine and 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) by road from Kolwezi
Kolwezi
Kolwezi is a city in Katanga Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Likasi. It is home to an airport and a railway to Lubumbashi. The population is approximately 418,000....
. A major power line runs through the south of the Kalukundi area. The Kolwezi-Likasi railway runs 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of the property.
An initial feasibility study was conducted between May 2004 and May 2006. Drilling indicated a reserve of 7.8 million tonnes of ore grading 2.44% copper and 0.69% cobalt in oxides at a depth of 40 metres (131.2 ft) to 130 metres (426.5 ft).
This was considered a conservative estimate of resources.
Development plans
The plan used as the basis for the 2006 feasibility study was to produce 800,000 tonnes of ore per year, giving an estimated annual yield of 16,400 tonnes of copper and 3,800 tonnes of cobalt.Ore would be extracted by a contractor using conventional open pit selective exploitation, with multiple pits and multiple cut-back to ensure a steady supply of ore.
A revised study was commissioned in June 2011 to investigate a 50% higher rate of ore production, and to take into account the much higher metal prices.