First Quantam Minerals Ltd. (FQM) will begin constructing a $230-million power line from Zambia’s capital Lusaka to Solwezi. The power line will help supply energy to its newest mine in Kalumbila.
Company CEO and managing director Matt Pascall said that FQM struck an agreement with Zambia Electricity Supply Corp. (Zesco) over the 330 kV transmission line that would span about 400 km and were awaiting government approval. The line is expected to gain power from the Itezhi-Tezhi hydropower station (120 MW) which is expected to become operational in June 2014. The African Development Bank approved an $18-million loan for its construction in June.
This is not the first firm to tap renewable energy to power mining operations (please read “Zambia: From Copper to Green”). However, FQM plans to invest more than $2 billion in the Sentinel mine, set to be Africa’s largest copper mine with a capacity to produce more than 500,000 tons of copper concentrate per year.
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