by ARNOLD MULENGA
LUSAKA – TERRA Metals and its subsidiary, Lunda Resources, have announced a significant metallurgical breakthrough at the Kalaba Copper Project in northwestern Zambia.
Independent testing confirmed flotation recoveries of more than 96,5 percent and a concentrate grade of 26,91 percent copper, the Australian firm stated.
This is seen as an outstanding result for an oxide-dominant ore.
Cumulative copper recovery by flotation was 96,52 percent, with sulphide concentrate containing 26,91 percent copper and oxide concentrate containing 4,31 percent.
The project has received full environmental approval from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).
A 5MW solar facility is built and permitted for operation, with plans to expand to 100MW – achieving carbon-neutral production of copper and cobalt.
Terra Metals and its partners are to become Zambia’s first large-scale green producer of critical metals, powered largely entirely by solar energy.
“This is not only a technical victory, but also a statement that Zambia can lead the world in the supply of critical minerals and advance responsible production powered by solar energy. The Kalaba project shows us that innovation, sustainable development and community partnerships can create tremendous value when combined,” said Mumena Mushinge, Chairman, Terra Metals Inc. and Lunda Resources.
In addition to the Kalaba project, the company, through Central Africa Renewable Energy, holds a large-scale exploration licence covering potential copper-cobalt mining areas south of the Kamoa-Kakula Mine at Ivanhoe on the DRC’s Copperbelt.
