On December 22, 2009 CNMC held the reopening ceremony for the newly acquired Luanshya Copper Mine (CLM). Baluba mine has finished overhaul and renovation and got well-prepared to commence production. This is another historical moment in the development of Zambia-China friendship and another achievement of 45 years of cooperation between our two countries.
H.E. President of Zambia Ruphia Banda, Vice president George Kunda and the Former Zambian President Kaunda, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangming, Vice President of CNMC and Chairman of Luanshya Cooper Mines Ltd. Tao Xinghu, Ministers of Ministry of Mine and Mineral Development, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Engineering and Supply and Minister of Copper Belt Province and other government officials together with officials from Zone Enterprises attended the ceremony. That was the first time in Zambia when such a big group of high level officials attended a reopening ceremony of a mine all together. They pay great attention to this project and people of Zambia fully recognize CNMC’s work to reopen the mine.
The ceremony was started with H.E. President Banda’s speech. He conveyed his thanks to Government of China and CNMC for their support to the development of Zambia, and sang high praise for CNMC’s commitment of “no reducing of production, investment and employment”. He said the smiles on the face of Luanshya people showed their admiration, trust and expectation for Chinese investors. He hopes that CNMC would lead the friendship between China and Zambia into a new chapter and give it a new lustre.
Ambassador Li Qiangming also delivered a speech. He recalled the 45 years of cooperation between China and Zambian and fully recognized CNMC’s contribution to Zambia. Tao Xinghu, Vice-president of CNMC and chairman of Luanshya Copper Mine, Luo Xingen, Robert Karma, General Manager and Vice-Genral Manger of Luanshya Copper Mines also gave warm speeches illustrating the investment and planning schedule for the mine and showed their determination and confidence of developing Luanshya Copper Mines. They also expressed thanks to Zambian government and society for their support and CNMC takeover group and all employees both from China and Zambia for their 182 days of hard work.
After briefing on the reopening progress of the mine, at 12:22 hrs H.E. President Banda together with Ambassador Li pressed the button of 11.3 km long conveyor belt in the mine and officially launched Luanshya Copper Mines.