Chinese state-owned mining companies officially launched a second copper mine at Chambishi on Saturday. The West Orebody Project will be run by the same company, NFC-A as runs the existing mine. Total investment for the project is US$100 million. Construction is expected to take three years, and once operational, the mine will will provide 1,500 new job opportunities for the local people.
Xinhua new agency reports that Zambian Vice President Rupiah Banda attended the opening ceremony in Kitwe, as did Chinese Ambassador Li Qiangmin, chief executive officer (CEO) of Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (ZCCZ) Tao Xinghu and CEO of NFC-A Luo Xingeng. All pressed the idea of a win-win relationship between Zambia and China. However, after struggles over working conditions, and particularly over casualisation and union-busting by NFC-A, described in the For Whom the Windfalls? report, minewatchers will want to keep a close eye on whether the project uses local or Chinese labour, management, parts and suppliers, and on the terms of employment in the mine.
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