Research and Markets: Zambia Mining Report Q1 2012: Low Taxes, Privatisation and Elevated Copper Prices Boost Investment and Output

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d0317d/zambia_mining_repo) has announced the addition of the "Zambia Mining Report Q1 2012" report to their offering.

Zambia's mining sector is set to continue the recovery seen over the last decade. The country had declining copper output throughout the 1990s but a mixture of low taxes, privatisation and elevated copper prices has seen a substantial boost to investment and output. BMI expects the value of the mining sector to reach US$1.35bn by 2015, from US$590mn in 2010, marking an annual average growth rate of 7.5%.

Business Monitor International's Zambia Mining Report provides industry professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, mining associations, government departments and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Zambia's mining industry.

Copper Output To Surpass 1mtpa In 2014

Copper mining will remain the mainstay of Zambia's mining sector, with output reaching 1.2mnt (mn tonnes) in 2015, from 732kt ('000 tonnes) in 2010. Much of this growth will be driven by First Quantum, which expects to start to produce 190ktpa ('000 tonnes per annum) by 2014 at the Sentinel deposit and is increasing output at the Kanshanshi mine from 250 to 400ktpa in 2015.

The company appears to be focusing on Zambia as the centre of its African growth opportunities, after the legal wrangling with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government over the Frontier mine. The other major contributor to growth will be Vedanta Resources, which is doubling output at the Konkola mine to 400ktpa in 2015.

Cobalt will exhibit similar levels of growth to copper, as the two metals are generally mined together. In the short term, Equinox Minerals plans to double output at its Lumwana mine to 4.0ktpa in 2011. In addition, First Quantum's Kanshashi mine is expected to increase cobalt production from 3.5 to 5ktpa in 2015. Overall, BMI expects Zambia's cobalt production to reach 13.4ktpa in 2015, marking average growth of 8.9% a year from 8.8kt in 2010.

Key Topics Covered:

• SWOT Analysis
• Global Mining Outlook
• Industry Trends And Developments
• Business Environment
• Political Outlook
• Industry Forecasts Scenario
• Regulatory Development
• Competitive Landscape
• Company Profiles
• Commodity Strategy - Metals Update
• Gold
• Copper
• Aluminum
• Lead
• Nickel
• Tin
• Zinc
• Global Assumptions

Companies Covered:

• First Quantum
• Vedanta Resources

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d0317d/zambia_mining_repo.