Publications
Partners
The decision to increase royalties for open pit mines to 20% from 6% and those for underground mines to 8% from 6% has rattled unions and miners and there had been hopes that the government would soften the plan.
But Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma said on Tuesday the government would implement the new royalties system as is when it comes into effect on January 1 because it was in the best interest of the country, Africa's second-largest copper producer.
"It will be negligent of the government to undo what we did. We applied our minds when coming up with the new rates and can't just change because of an outcry," Yaluma told Reuters.
He added that mining companies should come up with clear models showing how their businesses would be hit by the royalties for the government to consider any revision.
Zambia's Chamber of Mines said this month the new royalties would result in shaft closures and 12 000 jobs losses, and may make a number of other operations economically unviable.
The plan has already prompted Toronto-based Barrick Gold to suspend operations at its Lumwana Copper Mine, which supports nearly 4 000 direct jobs in the area.
Barrick would start closing down Lumwana, which produced around 118 000 tonnes of copper in 2013, on January 1, Mine Workers Union of Zambia President Chishimba Nkole said, adding his 25 000-strong union was deeply concerned about job losses.
"There must be flexibility on the part of the government and they must act very swiftly because we don't want our members to lose their jobs," Nkole told Reuters.
Mining accounts for 12% of Zambia's gross domestic product and 10% of formal employment.
Mopani Copper Mines, owned by Glencore, and Canadian firm First Quantum Minerals both have big copper projects that could also be at risk, the Chamber of Mines said.
First Quantum, which operates Zambia's largest copper mine, Kansanshi has said the plan is a "massive disincentive" for investment if it does not come with some form of capital relief.
Other mining companies operating in Zambia include Vedanta Resources and Vale.
The new royalties were passed into law in the 2015 budget.
