Mopani Copper Mines licence area cleared, as six mining rights revoked by government

The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has revoked multiple mining rights within Mopani Copper Mines PLC’s Large-Scale Mining Licence No. 7073-HQ-LML in Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province.

The affected licences included Small-Scale Exploration Licence 38443-HQ-SEL, held by Digi Wave Branding Limited; Artisanal Mining Right 38444-HQ-AMR, held by Zambia Federation of Co-operatives in Mining Society Limited.

Others are Artisanal Mining Right 39380-HQ-AMR, held by Febian Mubuyaeta; Artisanal Mining Right 39381-HQ-AMR, held by Faith Mushongo; Artisanal Mining Right 39385-HQ-AMR, held by Georgina Muleya Mwansa; and Artisanal Mining Right 39377-HQ-AMR, held by Voster Hampako.

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This was contained in statement issued in Lusaka by Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Shamwinda Tembo.

He said the revocation was enacted by the Mining Licensing Committee under Section 72 of the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 11 of 2015, following the rights holders’ failure to obtain the necessary mining consents from Mopani Copper Mines PLC, as required under Section 16 of the Act.

“The affected parties must immediately surrender their licences to the Director of the Mining Cadastre Department and vacate the site to prevent disruptions to Mopani Copper Mines PLC’s operations,” Tembo said.

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