ZAMBIA'S COPPER PRODUCTION DROPS BY 3.6 PERCENT

 Zambia's copper production fell by 3.6 percent in 2023 to 732, 583.45 tonnes down from 760,000 tonnes mined in 2022.

And government has projected a 33 percent increase in production to 980,165 tonnes in 2024 with Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines expected to contribute 57,890 tonnes and 90,537 tonnes of copper, respectively.

According to Tobias Musonda, Director of Planning and Information at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, the difference between the 2022 and 2023 total production figures indicates a drop of 27,416.55 tonnes.

The 3.6 percent drop in production is despite the ministry of finance projecting that Zambia’s copper output will fall by more than 10% in 2023, reaching its lowest level in 14 years at 682,431 tonnes.

In response to a Phoenix News press query, Mr. Musonda disclosed that artisanal and small-scale mining contributed 34, 017.36 tonnes, while large-scale mines produced 698,566.09 tonnes of copper in 2023.

He adds that FQM trident contributed the most to copper output at 214, 224.3 tonnes, while Mimbula contributed the least at 7, 093.42 tonnes from large-scale mining production.