File photo shows a truck exiting the mine after collecting ore from 516 metres below the surface at the Chibuluma copper mine in the Zambian Copperbelt region. (Xinhua)
Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, says copper output in 2020 grew by 10.8 percent, hitting 882,061 tons despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
LUSAKA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zambia, Africa's second-largest copper producer, saw an increase in the production of the red metal in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, its mines ministry said on Tuesday.
File photo shows a truck exiting the mine after collecting ore from 516 metres below the surface at the Chibuluma copper mine in the Zambian Copperbelt region. (Xinhua)
The country produced 882,061.46 tons of copper in 2020 compared to 796,430.77 tons the previous year. This represents an increase of 10.8 percent year on year.
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa said large mining firms had increased their output last year despite the negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said during a press briefing that the government also introduced a number of interventions such as suspension of a five percent import duty on copper concentrates which resulted in the ramping up of operations.
According to him, the prospects for the mining sector look positive despite the COVID-19 pandemic. ■
