Zambia Gold Company (ZGCL) has dispelled assertions that the company is conducting mining activities at Kansenseli Gold mine on Mwinilunga without a licence.
The reaction follows media reports from some section of society that the mining company is operating illegally. ZGCL public relations officer Mathews Kaputo states that the information is misleading.
Mr. Kaputo revealed that ZGCL obtained the Small-Scale Mining Licence number 26457-HQ-SML for Kasenseli Gold Mine on 16th June 2020 after following all statutory and regulatory approvals from relevant Government entities and stakeholders.
“The stakeholders include the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Chibwika Chiefdom,” reveals Mr. Kaputo in a statement.
He says with the licence in place, ZGCL has been conducting exploration and mining activities in Kasenseli, with all gold produced sold to the Bank of Zambia. A total of K120 million has so far been injected in developing the mine.
He disclosed that Kasenseli gold mine is the only mine project in the country in which the community holds a shareholding at 5 percent through the Chibwika Chiefdom Trust, including the two previous licence holders Kampoko Resources with 12.5 percent and PCB Mining 12.5 percent while the remaining 70 percent is held by ZGCL.
” In view of the above, the operations at Kasenseli Gold Mine will continue, and ZGCL is ready to engage and provide any further clarification regarding the operations to any stakeholder,” states Mr. Kaputo.
