Lusaka - Zambia's state-owned power company Zesco plans to
build a new 330 kV power transmission line to provide electricity to new mines,
the environmental management agency said on Thursday.
Zesco applied for environmental approval to build the power
line, which would feed First Quantum Minerals' Kalumbila mine and Barrick
Gold's Lumwana mine, the agency said.
Under Zambian law the environmental management agency has to
approve all significant infrastructure projects.
"The estimated capital cost of the project is $249.3m
and project implementation will take approximately 30 months," the agency
said in a statement.
Barrick acquired Lumwana, which was set to produce between
230 million and 260 million pounds of copper in 2012, through its $7.7bn
takeover of Equinox Minerals in 2011.
Canada's First Quantum will invest $1bn in the new mine at
Kalumbila, which is expected to produce 300,000 tonnes of copper annually at
peak production.
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