Mashamba East
Encyclopedia
Mashamba East is an open pit copper mine near to Kolwezi
in Katanga Province
, Democratic Republic of the Congo, currently not being actively worked.
The mine is the easternmost of the Dima pit group, with Mashamba West and then Dikuluwe Open Pit to the west.
After acquiring the mine, Katanga Mining
had plans to restart operations.
As of 2009, total measured and indicated resources were 75 million tons at 1.80% copper and 0.38% cobalt.
Plans for dewatering were deferred until 2016.
before majority rights were sold to Katanga Mining and Nikanor
and in early 2000s.
Following the friendly merger of the Katanga Mining and Nikanor assets, there was speculation that the Dikuluwe and Mashamba West deposits were being transferred to Gécamines
, and would be exploited by a joint venture owned 32% by Gécamines and 68% by a Chinese consortium.
As of 2009 the exploitation rights to the Mashamba East mine were owned by a joint venture, 75% Katanga Mining
and 25% Gecamines.
Kolwezi
Kolwezi is a city in Katanga Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Likasi. It is home to an airport and a railway to Lubumbashi. The population is approximately 418,000....
in Katanga Province
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, Democratic Republic of the Congo, currently not being actively worked.
Location
The mine covers an area of 11.04 square kilometres (4.3 sq mi). It is located within the Kolwezi Nappe, a northeast striking synclinal basin about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) long by 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) wide.The mine is the easternmost of the Dima pit group, with Mashamba West and then Dikuluwe Open Pit to the west.
Operations
The mine operated from 1985-1988, during which period it produced 9.8 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 4.96% copper and 0.35% cobalt. The pit was allowed to flood in 1998 for lack of funds.After acquiring the mine, Katanga Mining
Katanga Mining
Katanga Mining is a mining company in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , majority-owned by Swiss commodity trader Glencore.-DCC:...
had plans to restart operations.
As of 2009, total measured and indicated resources were 75 million tons at 1.80% copper and 0.38% cobalt.
Plans for dewatering were deferred until 2016.
Ownership
The Dima mines were originally owned by the state-owned GécaminesGécamines
Gécamines, or La Générale des Carrières et des Mines, is a state-owned mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo . Its principal products are copper , cobalt and zinc...
before majority rights were sold to Katanga Mining and Nikanor
Nikanor Plc
Nikanor Plc was a copper and cobalt mining company active in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. In January 2008 it was merged into Katanga Mining...
and in early 2000s.
Following the friendly merger of the Katanga Mining and Nikanor assets, there was speculation that the Dikuluwe and Mashamba West deposits were being transferred to Gécamines
Gécamines
Gécamines, or La Générale des Carrières et des Mines, is a state-owned mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo . Its principal products are copper , cobalt and zinc...
, and would be exploited by a joint venture owned 32% by Gécamines and 68% by a Chinese consortium.
As of 2009 the exploitation rights to the Mashamba East mine were owned by a joint venture, 75% Katanga Mining
Katanga Mining
Katanga Mining is a mining company in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , majority-owned by Swiss commodity trader Glencore.-DCC:...
and 25% Gecamines.