The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday officially handed Konkola Copper Mines back to Vedanta Resources Limited with a call to increase the firm’s copper production levels as it retains its status.

President Hichilema said during the official relaunch of KCM in Chililabombwe, that Vedanta Resources is more than capable of bringing the mining giant back to its magnificence status and add to more job opportunities as the Government and the investor work together in other areas such as the energy sector.

The President who commended Vedanta for accepting to working all issues surrounding KCM out of court with the Government, said the people of Chingola, Chililabombwe, and the Copperbelt were hopeful that the investor will change their lives as they have patiently waited for a long time.

He described the relaunch of KCM as a great day for Zambia, urging all stakeholders to work together to revive KCM with an expected copper production levels to hit 300,000 metric tonnes per annum.

Speaking at the same event, Vedanta Resources Limited Chief Executive Officer, Chris Griffith thanked President Hichilema for his sound leadership which has shown a positive approach to the business environment, further saying that Vedanta stands ready to bring KCM back to its glory days and aim at increasing coper production levels to add to the 3 million metric tonnes as envisaged by the Government.

“On behalf of the Chairman of Vedanta, Mr. Anil Agarwal, the Management of the parent company, KCM Management and staff, I profoundly pass our word of gratitude for your sound leadership in helping to resolve the misunderstandings of the past,” he said.

Mr. Griffith further said KCM’s operations are a huge asset to Vedanta’s business and making sure that it remains in operations to its optimal levels is a must to add to Vedanta’s strategic business plan.

“KCM is such a strategic asset for Vedanta, like any other. This is the reason that we have pledged to invest $1 billion in the next five years in order to fulfill the untampered dream of making KCM a world class copper producer by leveraging the huge mineral resource, which sits on the Konkola Deep Mine, within the precinct of where we are standing,” he said.

Mr. Griffith said he believes that the renewed support of the leadership of Mr. Hichilema’s government, the KCM employees and business partners, KCM will get the required boost to achieve the set targets.