By CREAVAT CHITUTA –

in Solwezi
KALUMBILA Minerals Limited, Trident project assistant general manager, Tristan Pascal says the mine is committed to continue with its operations.
Mr Pascal said the mine is expected to start full operations in June or July this year after all the requirements were put in place.
He said this when Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda speaking people of Solwezi in North-Western Province toured the mine to familiarise himself with the operations and investments put up by the mine in his chiefdom.
Mr Pascal while responding to some questions raised by Senior Chief Musele’s described the relationship between the mine and Government as constructive.
Mr Pascal further said the mine was looking forward to discuss considerably with the Government on mineral royalty tax for the development of the mine.
“It is challenging your royal highness, we are committed to develop the mine in your chiefdom and we are looking forward to come out of this phase and hoping for stability for us to work on our development plan,” he said.
Mr Pascal, however assured the traditional leader that the mine would strive to make the US$2 billion capital investment for the company viable and pay back the loans to the financial institutions with stability in place.
“We can make this $2 billion capital investment viable and make sure that the development plan is done and we pay back the loans,” he said.
Senior Chief Musele who toured the mine for the first time to familiarise himself with the operations and investments put up by the mine in his chiefdom appreciated the investment.
However, the traditional leader expressed concern at a number of issues especially on the support to the education sector and issues surrounding the land allocated to the mine.