Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

Glencore Congo unit says to pursue $880 million modernisation plan

Published 11/09/2015, 19:57
© Reuters. The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar
HG
-
GLEN
-
KAT
-

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congolese miner Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), controlled by Glencore (LONDON:GLEN), said on Friday it was suspending production of copper and cobalt but would press ahead with a planned $880 million modernisation project to cut costs.

KCC said in a statement it would maintain at least 80 percent of its existing workforce during the shutdown, which was announced this week in Glencore's results.

"The company has analysed numerous options but faces no viable alternative in light of the challenging environment for commodities," the statement said.

It added that KCC would follow through on an existing investment in refurbishments to power plants at the Inga hydroelectric dam in southwestern Congo and transmission lines to the copper-mining southeast of the country.

Glencore estimates that the upgrades will bring down production costs from more than $2.50 per pound to about $1.65 per pound.

The announcement followed a meeting between a Glencore delegation and government representatives on Thursday in the capital Kinshasa. In it statement, KCC said it would take into account the issues raised by the government without elaborating.

Congo, Africa's biggest copper producer, mined more than 1 million tonnes of the metal for the first time ever in 2014. The country's chamber of mines said last month that it expected production to dip slightly in 2015 due to chronic power shortages.

The value of Congo's copper exports, which represents more than half the value of its total exports, fell by 25.8 percent in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year as prices fell on the back of fears of slowing demand in China, the world's top industrial metals consumer.

© Reuters. The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar

The KCC joint-venture is controlled by the Swiss mining and trading company, while Democratic Republic of Congo's state mining company Gecamines and Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler's Fleurette Group both hold minority stakes.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.