By 
President Hakainde Hichilema has urged International Resources Holding (IRH), co-owner of Mopani Copper Mines, to accelerate copper production while increasing the participation of Zambians in the mining sector.
According to a post on his official Facebook page on Monday Sept. 28, Hichilema said Mopani had a key role to play in helping Zambia achieve its target of producing three million tonnes of copper annually under the Government’s Grow Zambia agenda.
He was speaking when he met IRH chief executive officer Ali Rashed Alrashdi on the sidelines of his working visit to Abu Dhabi.
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The President said increasing copper production to three million tonnes a year remained central to Zambia’s economic ambitions, with Mopani expected to make a significant contribution to the target.
“Raising copper production to three million tonnes a year is central to our Grow Zambia agenda, and Mopani Copper Mines is key to reaching that target for the benefit of its shareholders and, above all, the Zambian people,” Hichilema said.
He also called for full implementation of Zambia’s Local Content law to ensure that mining activities create greater opportunities for local businesses, workers and communities.
Hichilema said government wanted the country’s mineral resources, particularly copper, to translate into tangible economic benefits for Zambians.
“For our part, we remain committed to ensuring that our natural resources, copper chief among them, deliver real benefits to our people as we implement the Grow Zambia agenda,” he said.
The engagement with IRH forms part of Government’s continued discussions with strategic investors on increasing mining production, creating employment and expanding local participation in the sector.
Zambia has set a target of producing three million tonnes of copper annually as it seeks to expand the mining sector’s contribution to economic growth and increase opportunities for local businesses and citizens.
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