As the Zambian government renews its commitment to accelerating copper production and exploration for other minerals in the country, such as gold, iron-ore, lithium, nickel and cobalt, multidisciplinary consultancy SRK Consulting is expanding its Southern African footprint through the establishment of a new office in Kitwe, located in the heart of Zambia’s Copperbelt.
Given SRK’s long history of consulting in Zambia, the company believes the timing of the launch is ideal to establish a stronger, more visible in-country presence.
“The opportunities for growth in Zambia are significant. With a revised mining cadastre in place and the fact that more than half of the country’s surface remains unexplored, Zambia is an attractive investment destination for exploration and mining companies,” says SRK Consulting South Africa partner and principal engineering geologist Desmond Mossop.
The Zambian government is aiming to increase refined copper production from 900 000 t/y to three-million tonnes a year by 2032.
The country has established a transparent mining cadastre. It has also implemented legislation, including the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, which establishes the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) as the central authority for mineral resource management, and the Geological and Minerals Development Act, which aims to enhance the sector through surveying, mapping, exploration and supporting Zambian miners and attracting investment.
To assist in exploration, high-resolution aerial surveys of Zambia have already covered 60% of the country.
Simultaneously, the government is also making efforts to create a more reliable power supply and additional infrastructure to enable further growth.
“Establishing an SRK Consulting office in Kitwe enables us to work more closely with our clients and respond more effectively to their needs. This new base is close to Zambia’s centre of copper mining and also in proximity to operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” says Able Tunono, the Zambian geotechnical engineer who will head the practice.
He comments that the company is seeing mining expand beyond the existing Copperbelt into newer areas, including the country’s North-Western province, which can be serviced from Kitwe.
With this in mind, and considering its historical work in Zambia, SRK Consulting notes that it is able to provide the range of mining and related services the country needs in this expansion phase.
SRK’s work beyond the mining sector, in areas such as water, energy and infrastructure, means the company can integrate its range of skills to service clients’ needs from exploration to mine closure.
Regarding energy, the company explains that, despite national energy company Zesco taking measures to create a more stable energy system and encouraging mining operators to be more energy independent, Zambia is, nevertheless, vulnerable to an inconsistent power supply.
“SRK has the expertise to assist with Zambia’s energy deficiencies and offers technical support to companies seeking to be energy independent. We conduct civil geotechnical assessments, for example, for the construction of solar farms, ensuring environmental compliance and relevant permitting,” says Tunono.
Additionally, the work of SRK’s geotechnical, civils, water and foundation engineering teams also plays an important role in supporting mining activities, according to SRK Consulting South Africa partner and principal engineering geologist Paul Aucamp.
“One of the significant risks faced by new mining operations is geotechnical risks that may increase project initiation costs for heavy infrastructure and tailings dams.
“Water is also both a danger and necessity for mining operations. Our civils teams provide expertise in surface and underground water management, pumping, disaster management relating to flood and stormwater risks and the provision of water for mine operations,” he says.
SRK also provides services in areas such as due diligence and compliance auditing, as well as environmental, social and governance matters.
Operating its practices under an employee-owned model, SRK Consulting adds that it is well-positioned to meet Zambia’s requirements for local employee representation in international companies.
“We plan to grow the practice with the assistance of local expertise to benefit Zambian communities, the local economy and the natural environment. We aim to work with clients to develop sustainable mining operations that support mine stakeholders and broader society,” says Tunono.
