LUMWANA Mining Company in Solwezi, North-Western Province has said critical parts for its 4.5-kilometre conveyor system have been stolen in Lusaka while in transit from South Africa.
Lumwana managing director, Harry Michael said yesterday that the parts were stolen at the weekend between Kafue and Lusaka en route to Solwezi.
He said the parts were ordered to fix the conveyor that had problems, breaking down two times in the last three weeks.
This forced Lumwana to reduce on its production.
"The parts arrived at the weekend, but some parts were stolen around the Kafue area, and these are critical parts. The matter has been reported to police," Mr Michael said.
He said the problems with the conveyor system, which was manufactured in South Africa, could not be fixed without the parts that were stolen.
The conveyor system was designed and built by engineering group, Sandvik Materials Handling, as subcontractors to joint venture partners, Ausenco, and mining engineering company, Bateman Engineering, which had been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the Lumwana project.
"We will concentrate on deliveries to Chambishi while Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) fixes the problem. We offer our support to KCM," Mr Michael said.
KCM reported on Monday that the Nchanga Smelter had suspended operations due to a technical fault that occurred at the weekend at the Chingola-based 300,000 tonnes-per-annum facility.
The period of shutdown is expected to be around two weeks, with normal operations to resume around July 12.
The suspension of Nchanga Smelter operations comes more than a month after Equinox Minerals signed a five-year agreement with KCM for processing of concentrates at its Lumwana Copper Mine.
