KANSANSHI Mining Plc has begun production with an initial 2,000 tonnes of copper and 6,000 tonnes of ore concentrates at its new open pit mine in Solwezi.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Kansanshi general manager Jim Gorman, said these figures were what was produced from December 31, 2004 to date.

He, however, said the mine which was last year commissioned with an initial capital cost of US$ 250 million was not operating at full production yet.

Mining and stock piling of ore had preceded the production stages.

First Quantum Minerals (FQM), the parent company of Kansanshi Mine Plc had since spent an average of US$ 1 million investment every day during the mine's initial stages.

It is expected that the mine, the first to be opened in Zambia in the past 40 years would produce 50, 000 ounces of gold, 70, 000 tonnes of copper cathode and 50, 000 tonnes of copper concentrates at full production.

Suppliers of goods and services had been prodded to set up base in Solwezi, as the mine was a large consumer of goods and services, to boost economic activity.

Among the latest developments to have taken place at the mine include the installation of an acid plant that had been producing in excess of 300 tonnes of sulphuric acid.

An environmental management plan had also been instituted at the mine to provide an operating frame work for managing environmental issues during construction, operation and closure phases of the mine.

The mine's life is pegged at 45 years though it still room for extension.