FQM Together - Q2 2020 by Langmead & Baker

TOGETHER NEWS

TOGETHER ISSUE Quarter 2, 2020

AN FQM ZAMBIA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

What’s Inside: • FQM’S TAX PAYMENT TOPS EXTRACTIVE SECTOR IN 2018 ZEITI REPORT • ANTHONY MUKUTUMA APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF KANSANSHI MINE • COMMUNITIES REASSURED OF CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE • KMP HANDS OVER COVID-19 ISOLATION FACILITY TO GOVERNMENT • COMMUNITY JEWELLERY WORKSHOP SET TO ADD VALUE Picture taken by Mwansa Mambwe.

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WHAT’S INSIDE

COUNTRY MANAGER'S MESSAGE

04 12 16 COMMUNITY JEWELLERY'S

18 20 26

EUSTER MWETELA

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FQM’S TAX PAYMENT TOPS EXTRACTIVE SECTOR IN 2018 ZEITI REPORT

COMMUNITIES REASSURED OF CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY JEWELLERY WORKSHOP SET TO ADD VALUE

THREE HEALTH POSTS IN KALUMBILA HANDED-OVER TO GOVERNMENT LEARNING TAKEN TO THE AIRWAVES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC WORKFORCE RECOGNISED FOR RESILIENCE

CONSERVATION FARMING PROGRAMME GOES DIGITAL WITH INTERACTIVE MAP

n the world of Mining, we sometimes read of some Investors who are referred to as “Eagles” and others who are called “Sparrows”. Sparrows fly off at the earliest sign of trouble in the Sector, but Eagles stay, choosing to fly right into the eye of the storm to be carried by its energies. Perhaps this is a befitting description of our FQML Investors for they have indeed ridden storms in the Zambian Investment climate since inception, emerging at the end of each storm at the top, demonstrating endurance. In this Issue of our “Together” Magazine, we report the company’s contribution to the Treasury through payment of Taxes. These taxes play a critical role in the development of our country’s economy and it is noteworthy that FQM was tops in the stormy year of 2018 as reported by the Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (ZEITI) Report for that year. The storm did not abate in 2019, but got worse by unexpected ‘gale force’ wind of COVID-19 virus pandemic. Rather than take shelter and let the wind of the virus die down a bit, the ‘Eagle’ flew right into the eye of the storm, declaring no closure of operations and taking a stand with our Government to fend off infections and protect both the workforce and the people in our communities near and far off. Governments and Investors in various sectors world-wide have reacted in various ways in response to the pandemic. Here in Zambia, the decision to spend huge sums of unbudgeted money to prevent COVID-19 virus breaking out in our operations has paid off. Our employees remain safe while Government has benefitted from donations and installations of health facilities. I would like to pay tribute to the hardworking employees who continue to strive to fend off this disruptive and destructive virus. The resilience of our workers has been tested and all have passed with a distinction. The Education Sector has suffered the biggest blow world-wide from the COIVID-19 pandemic with schools remaining closed till recently and then in Zambia, only for Examination classes. We feature in this publication, a heart- warming initiative to enable our children to learn by radio. This version of e-learning is a great adaptation of video-linked learning and a tremendous effort to reduce dropouts as a result of the pandemic. The Together Magazine is taking a new profile. Starting with this publication, apart from featuring individuals who are making things happen in all aspects of our operations, we are publishing a technical article to educate ourselves on Mining Operations. This Magazine therefore will serve as a reference for anyone who wishes to learn an aspect of our operations. For a start, get to know the Drill and Blast Operations at Sentinel.

Finally, we have always complained of failure to add value to our copper in Zambia. It is a genuine complaint. FQM-Kansanshi Foundation has responded by setting up a Jewellery Factory operated by its community in Solwezi. This is another effort the company continues to make to ensure that communities can continue to support themselves after mining ceases and it is highly commendable. Enjoy the Magazine and by all means, stay safe and healthy. Protect yourselves, your workmates and your families. Kind regards, General Kingsley Chinkuli FQM Country Manager

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NEWS

FQM’S TAX PAYMENT TOPS EXTRACTIVE SECTOR IN 2018 ZEITI REPORT

irst Quantum Minerals paid over K7 billion in taxes and royalties to the Zambian Government in 2018, representing almost 40 percent of total payments made by the extractive industry, cementing its position as the nation’s largest taxpayer. The 2018 Zambia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (ZEITI) report published in June 2020, reveals that the majority of the mining giant’s taxes, amounting to K4.47 billion, were paid by Kansanshi Mining. This payment alone accounted for around a quarter of the country’s extractive payment receipts for that period of K17.98 billion based on figures reported by the industry. FQM’s newer Kalumbila Minerals Limited subsidiary paid K2 billion in taxes while the mining giant’s operations unit, First Quantum Mining and Operations’ paid K658 million; accounting for 11.2 percent and 3.7

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percent of the government’s total revenue from the sector, respectively. The tax payments included VAT, Mineral Royalty Tax, PAYE, Import Tax and Income Tax, as well as dividends and other investment income collected by ZCCMIH, social payments by companies, and payments to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). FQM Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli said: "Our business, including the taxes and royalties we pay, play a critical role in the overall economic health and development of Zambia." The funds FQM provides to Government and communities support the basic infrastructure of society – bridges and roads, schools and hospitals – as well as other local development priorities. This is in addition to the enormous economic impact of job creation and skills training. “Being transparent about where these

payments go helps our stakeholders better understand how these funds may be used," he said. However, Zambia’s leading economists have cautioned government over the 2019 mining tax regime that have raised the tax burden on mines to unsustainable and uncompetitive levels. The new tax measures targeted at the mining sector in the 2019 budget saw the royalties increased from 4 to 6 percent and introduced a new 10 percent tax when the price of copper exceeds $7,500 per tonne. General Chinkuli said that Zambia has made tremendous headway on the economic development scale through the contribution of the mining sector,

but these gains could be hampered by an unfavourable tax regime. "Mineral tax systems should ensure adequate payments to both the country and to the investor. An effective and efficient mineral tax regime that aims to attract foreign direct investment should seek to adequately compensate the country while remaining internationally attractive and competitive," the FQM Country Manager said. Mining sector taxes and royalties paid to the government contribute significantly to the national economy. During the first half of 2019, the mining sector’s direct contribution was 13 percent of domestic revenues, according to the recent report 'Assessment of Mining Fiscal Regime in Zambia: 2000-2019' by Prof. Oliver Saasa and Shebo Nalishebo from the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR).

"Our business, including the taxes and royalties we pay, play a critical role in the overall economic health and development of Zambia.”

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NEWS

ANTHONY MUKUTUMA APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF KANSANSHI MINE

nthony Mukutuma has been appointed General Manager of Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi District of North Western Province. He is the first Zambian to hold such a post at Kansanshi, which is the largest copper mine in Africa by production. Mr Mukutuma has 20 years of experience in operations and management of mineral processing and hydrometallurgical plants, covering business development, research and development, design and design optimisation, commissioning, process optimisation (including debottlenecking), operations management, business performance improvement and talent development. Before his appointment, Mr Mukutuma ran First Quantum Minerals’ Guelb Moghrein copper-gold mine in Mauritania, and most recently was general manager for the restart of operations at its Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation in Australia. 6│ TOGETHER · Q4, 2020

NEWS

Mr Mukutuma’s previous designations include, the position of metallurgist in mineral processing at the Konkola Division of the then Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). He has also worked in hydrometallurgy at Anglo American’s research laboratories in South Africa, from senior metallurgist to plant manager, then technical manager at First Quantums’ Bwana Mkubwa mine processing plant in Ndola. He also worked as plant manager at the early stages of the Kevitsa Mine project in Finland. He holds a BEng. in chemical engineering with minerals engineering from the University of Birmingham, and an MBA in accounting and finance from the University of Liverpool. “FQM is proud to announce the appointment of Mr Mukutuma as the new general manager for our Kansanshi Mine. It is a significant milestone for the company and reinforces our commitment to providing equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race or creed,” said FQM Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli. “Management wishes him all the best in his new role as GM. We are confident he will be equal to the task and we are eager to tap into the vast knowledge he has acquired in the last 20 years in the industry.” General Chinkuli stressed it was one of numerous appointments that have seen senior Zambian staff taking on top management positions, not just at Kansanshi and its sister company Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila, but also other mines under the FQM Group worldwide. And he added that the company would continue to create an enabling environment where employees had an opportunity to progressively rise through the ranks. Kansanshi has around 3,276 direct staff and almost 5,000 contractors, primarily Zambians, and uses state-of-the-art technology to extract copper from three different ore types, with world-class efficiency.

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GOVERNMENT PLEASED WITH FQM’S COVID-19 PREVENTION MEASURES

Kalumbila Minerals donates personal protective equipment to the provincial health administration

overnment has commended First Quantum Minerals for the measures it has put in place to protect the health and overall well-being of its employees, their families and communities neighbouring its Kansanshi and Kalumbila mine sites from COVID-19. The government has also reaffirmed its commitment to helping mining companies to remain productive through capacity building in healthcare provision for their employees. Speaking after he toured the Kalumbila mine in May, NorthWestern Province Minister Hon. Nathaniel Mubukwanu said: “If we stay away from the response for whatever reason, we risk losing it all as a community. The government of the Republic of Zambia, particularly His Excellency the President attaches great importance to the operation of this mine. That is why we will do everything possible within our means to ensure that production is not disrupted. “This mine is not only important to the shareholders; to the investors, it’s just as important to the people of Zambia as it to the workers, because we know the contribution that you are making to national treasury. If the mine were to die today, if the mine were to shut down today, it means that that entire contribution would not be there,” he said. The provincial minister and the district administration teams visited the mine to appreciate the measures put in place to respond to COVID-19 in the workplace and the district. The minister and his entourage appreciated the screening at main entries to the town and mine, especially the state-

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Kalumbila Minerals donates personal protective equipment to the provincial health administration

of-the-art thermal scanner, which scans people's faces within a distance of up to 2 metres, that have been put in place at the mine’s main checkpoint to capture individual temperature data. “At first, we thought that we were very prepared, not until it was reported that we have a case before us. Our team of experts from the Ministry of Health, the local committee responded rapidly to ensure that those that had tested positive in the first place where put in the right isolation centres and also moved and managed by qualified people,” he continued. The minister also visited the isolation centres put in place by the mine and met with health workers. He thanked them for their dedication to duty. FQM Country Manager General Kinsley Chinkuli said the company employed several experts and liaises daily with the Ministry of Health.

“We have invested a lot of time and effort and money to get us as prepared as we believe we can. But like anything, we cannot do this alone; we need the support of the people like yourself from the government and the Ministry of Health; from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Labour. Generally, as a community if we can pull together, we believe we can get through,” he said. Mr Whyte also took time to donate 5,000 N95 surgical masks and 4,000 examination gloves to the provincial health administration. Provincial Health Director Dr Charles Msiska requested FQM to extend goodwill and have the same thermal scanners it has installed at its mines also installed at Solwezi Airport. Health workers from FQM will also be included with training for government health workers by a team from Lusaka, said Dr Msiska. In further work to prevent the spread of COVID-19, FQM has renovated Solwezi School of Nursing as an isolation facility at a cost of $85,298, purchased medical personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $80,000, repaired the Solwezi District Office ambulance at a total cost $4,900, donated a GeneXpert COVID-19 test machine, and repaired water reticulation at Solwezi General Hospital at a total cost of $5,000.

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PHOTO FOCUS

Women busy at work at Kansanshi Foundation's jewellery workshop, Nsanshi Art

FQM's Health Programmes and Projects Adviser Gertrude Musunka with a delegation from the provincial minister's office inside the COVID-19 isolation facility handed over to government

Trinkets made at Nsanshi Art, an initiative by Kansanshi Mine's community development wing Kansanshi Foundation

Cyclists at the kick-off of the ‘Walk for Water’ initiative supported by FQM, whose proceeds went to orphanages in Solwezi district

FQM Kalumbila Labour Day 2020

Kansanshi Mining Assistant General Manager John Gladston with N/W Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu at the handover ceremony Solwezi School of Nursing, which has been converted into a COVID-19 isolation facility Members of the Kansanshi community were encouraged to walk, jog, or cycle as much as possible over in the 'Walk for Water'. Kansanshi Mine pledged to donate K10 for every kilometre walked or run, and K5 for every kilometre cycled by participants

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Stakeholders from the Solwezi District Education Board and Kansanshi Foundation at the launch of the School-on-Radio initiative

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HEALTH

COMMUNITIES REASSURED OF CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

HEALTH

C The mining firm is working shoulder-toshoulder with government to provide primary healthcare to communities.

ommunities in Solwezi have been assured that there will be no interruption of extensive support of the primary healthcare system in the district, contrary to false claims by a disaffected supplier, whose contract had recently been terminated.

Province were at risk of missing out on adequate provision of health services after FQM cancelled a contract with the organisation contracted to provide some primary healthcare services in the area on its behalf.

"We are proud of the work we have done in partnership with the communities and the Ministry of Health to date and this work will most certainly continue,” said FQM Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli.

FQM Health Programmes and Projects Adviser Gertrude Musunka said FQM remained focused on continued support and engagement of local communities through numerous health programmes and projects.

The company’s generous support of the Ministry of Health towards battling COVID-19 is just one example of its ongoing commitment to Zambia as a whole and to our communities," he added.

"We are currently working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ministry of Health through the respective District Health Offices in both Solwezi and Kalumbila on COVID-19, malaria, HIV and other public health issues affecting our communities,” she said.

General Chinkuli confirmed that a Lusaka-based business called CHAMP Services Ltd had been contracted to supply on one of FQM’s primary healthcare programmes but had been given three months’ notice of termination of its contract. First Quantum continues working on this programme directly with the respective District Health Management Teams and Rural Health centres. A social media report erroneously alleged that over 50,000 community members in Solwezi District of North-Western

The FQM Primary Care programme has been running since 2014, during which time more than 100,000 individuals have been reached - equivalent to about 40 percent of Solwezi’s population based on the 2010 census. General Chinkuli called the allegations a frivolous attempt by disgruntled individuals to discredit FQM’s role in development in the areas it operates in, and added that such claims could have far-reaching and damaging consequences on responsible corporate citizens such as FQM and the community it serves. He said FQM is a transparent and accountable company that aims to serve the people of Zambia and, called on the media and members of the public to reach out to the company for accurate information before publishing and distributing unverified reports. Over the years, FQM has continued to place health programmes at the fore of its community activities. Its annual health budget is around US$15 million, including some US$12 million for employees and US$3 million for community health programmes. This excludes direct health support for infrastructure. The mining firm is currently undertaking programmes across all the six pillars of focus for example; taken a two-pronged approach to malaria prevention, working on prevention measures such as Indoor Residue Spraying programme (IRS) to reduce the number of mosquitoes that carry malaria, while also ensuring people have access to early screening, testing and treatment to avoid complications. In 2019 the company sprayed 34,983 structures under its Indoor Residual Spray programme; screened 92,329 community members for malaria and 18,460 for HIV/ AIDS and syphilis; and reached 133,981 people in the community with information on HIV prevention.

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TOGETHER HEALTH

KMP HANDS OVER COVID-19 ISOLATION FACILITY TO GOVERNMENT

ansanshi Mining Plc (KMP) has handed over to government part of the Solwezi School of Nursing which it has converted into a COVID-19 isolation facility at a cost of US$85,300.

The mining company, represented by Kansanshi Mining Assistant General Manager John Gladston, also handed over an assortment of personal protective equipment, medical equipment, surgical masks and gloves, refrigerators, beds, blankets and linen altogether worth US$120,000, bringing the total value of the handover to US$205,300. “There is more COVID-19 testing equipment to be handed over to government by Kansanshi, which will bring the total amount spent to more than US$400,000 - way above the US$120,000 the company pledged towards the fight against COVID-19,” said Mr Gladston. Receiving the donation of the COVID-19 Isolation Facility and accompanying medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, North Western Provincial Minister, Hon. Nathaniel Mubukwanu MP, paid glowing tribute to First Quantum Minerals and Kansanshi Mining Plc in particular, for being a reliable all weather friend of Zambia that has consistently taken care of its employees and their families, and members of the surrounding communities. He urged other corporate bodies to emulate the good work being undertaken by Kansanshi. The minister also implored the beneficiaries of the Isolation Facility to guard the infrastructure and accompanying equipment jealously, as the assets were intended to help the fight against theCOVID-19 pandemic.

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TOGETHER HEALTH

The Provincial Minister also said he was aware of the fact that Kansanshi Mining Plc had imported a GeneXpert COVID-19 testing machine and 10,000 test kits which would be housed by Solwezi General Hospital. He hailed this move by Kansanshi and said the machine would be a game-changer as all samples collected from suspected cases of COVID-19 in the North Western Province would be tested from Solwezi, thereby speeding up the process. At the moment, samples from the province are sent to Ndola or Lusaka, which delays the results. And speaking after the handover ceremony, Kansanshi Mine’s Public Relations Manager, Godfrey Msiska, said the donations reaffirmed the company’s desire to keep its employees and their families and members of the surrounding communities healthy through improved access to healthcare. The mining firm has also gone further by repairing the water distribution network at Solwezi General Hospital, repair of the hospital’s ambulance for disease surveillance, as well as the purchase of further medical equipment and personal protective equipment. “FQM has been there to lend a helping hand when requested, such as when the company pumped K12 million into the upgrading of Solwezi General Hospital to turn it into a modern health institution in 2013,” said Mr. Msiska. FQM has spent over US$440,000 (K8 million) to complement government’s multi-sectoral approach to fighting COVID-19 in communities surrounding its mining operations in the Solwezi and Kalumbila districts of North-Western Province. The mining firm has put in place contingency plans to deal with the virus by further strengthening clinical healthcare facilities and stepping up prevention awareness in the province.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

COMMUNITY JEWELLERY WORKSHOP SET TO ADD VALUE

new women-run jewellery workshop in Solwezi is set to add value to local minerals, provide employment and raise funds for vulnerable women and girls in the community. The initiative, which is being championed by the Kansanshi Foundation, received its first consignment of tools and machinery this month and has started initial production in temporary classroom accommodation – set up to ensure social distancing between work stations - pending construction of a jewellery factory in Solwezi. The factory, which will be the first of its kind in North-Western Province, will be an all-female run operation whose proceeds will go towards financing the mining company’s sustainability projects to support vulnerable women and girls to continue their education and stay safe from early marriage and domestic abuse. Kansanshi Foundation CSR Manager Bruce Lewis said once construction was complete the jewellery factory would provide much-needed employment and skills development to the community. 16│ TOGETHER · Q2, 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

The workshop staff are all female and are getting training to use the tools and machines in the process

“In all our operations in Zambia, we endeavour to empower the local communities by providing them with skills, jobs and also improving value chains in the province,” he added. The idea behind the factory is to make the Kansanshi Foundation more selfsustaining from the income generated by the jewellery shop, fostering continued community support and development. “This operation will enable us to generate our own income so that we are less reliant on the mine and the fluctuating copper prices,” Mr Lewis said. He noted that once the factory is in operation, the jewellery will have finished products produced locally by local people, giving a boost to Zambia’s export base and government’s agenda to promote the local manufacturing industry. The initiative by Kansanshi Foundation is one of several community support projects geared towards female empowerment that FQM has embarked on. In a response to fears of possible COVID-19 transmissions among its workers and immediate communities, FQM engaged a group of women in Solwezi to produce facemasks. The mining firm has prioritised the empowerment of local people, especially women and girls, in its community activities as a way of curbing poverty, unemployment and gender inequality.

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THREE HEALTH POSTS IN KALUMBILA HANDED OVER TO GOVERNMENT Keyser disclosed that government had assigned health workers to be stationed at the facilities and were set to report this week. Meanwhile, a representative of Chief Musele urged his subjects to value education so that their children can also have a chance to work at the facilities and support local development. “We would like to extend gratitude to the FQML family for the gesture rendered. The community investment the mine is making is a form of security for the mine because when community members see the benefits, they in turn protect the mine,” he said. FQM has spent more than US$100 million on its sustainability and community development programmes by aligning its Kansanshi and Trident foundations’ programmes to Zambia’s Seventh National Development Plan. The overall objective of the mining firm’s socio-economic development programmes is to improve the quality of life for its employees, their families, and their immediate communities.

One of the health posts officially handed over by Kalumbila Minerals.

Kalumbila Minerals Assistant General Manager Junior Keyser officially hands over one of the health posts.

“Our wish is that our various contributions provide rapid and targeted actions to support the healthcare sector in efforts to flatten the curve of infections and provide humanitarian support to vulnerable households and communities,” said Keyser.

alumbila Minerals Limited (KML) has handed over three new health posts in Kalumbila district to the government. The handover includes a staff house, clinic, incinerator, and ablution facilities at each facility, complete with the much-needed medical equipment.

“Our efforts in response to the needs of our communities are directed at where support is most required; very often in terms of basic services at the local community level in remote areas around our mines,” said KML Assistant General Manager Junior Keyser. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mr Keyser said the donation of the three health posts illustrated FQM’s strong commitment and unwavering support to the welfare and wellbeing of communities around its mining operations in Zambia.

One of the health posts has been named after Kalumbila Mine's former General Manager Morris Rowe "the Lion of Kalumbila" in homage of his contribution to the welfare of the community

“This is another illustration of FQM’s authentic support to the community, and the genuineness being shown is really unique. We are working on a number of fronts to support healthcare provision in the province; bolster community health and hygiene responses, and to provide relief to the most vulnerable in society,” he added. 18│ TOGETHER · Q2, 2020

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FEATURE

Radio lessons are the most scalable option for distance or virtual learning in Zambia, according to Dr Mandebvu. While students in affluent schools across the country access remote lessons online, internet connectivity is unavailable for much of Zambia’s rural population. Launching a radio learning scheme was, therefore "the clear and logical thing to do," said Dr Mandebvu. Student engagement Another aim of the radio initiative is to promote and maintain pupils' engagement with the education system to increase rates of return once schools reopen. This will be important in the face of the inevitable economic hardship following the pandemic, which will hit poor families hardest.

LEARNING TAKEN TO THE AIRWAVES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

lmost 4 million school-age children in Zambia have been forced to stay home since schools in the country were closed in mid-March as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While the closure of school may have undoubtedly limited the spread of the virus, the downside has been the disruption on the education of many school-going children in Zambia, especially the urban poor and those in rural areas.

The government introduced an e-learning platform soon after schools were closed, as well as a television channel dedicated to teaching pupils across the country. However, in a country where only 17 percent of the population have access to the internet, with 32.9 percent of Zambia’s 18 million people having access to electricity, the learning process to most schools came to a halt; further compounding the challenges of education access and quality in most parts of the country. Keeping children learning Even in the mobile, digital age, radio is the most available and accessible technology across the globe. UNESCO reports that 75 percent of households globally have access to radio and 20│ TOGETHER · Q2, 2020

in sub-Saharan Africa between 80 percent and 90 percent of households have access to a radio set. To keep children learning, the country has turned to one of its most accessible platforms: radio. Rising to the occasion The Kansanshi Foundation, in partnership with the Solwezi District Education Board has launched the School-on-Radio initiative, a radio schooling programme aimed at bridging the education gap among primary school-going children. The initiative focuses on Grades 1 to 7 school subjects that

One of the teachers on the programme during a radio recording session

have been derived from the Zambia’s school curriculum. FQM worked with partners, including the local radio station Solwezi FCC Radio, to produce and air the classes around the province. “The Kansanshi Mining response, which will be jointly run with the Solwezi District Education Board through Solwezi Radio, is meant to close this gap for primary schools in North-Western Province,” explained Kansanshi Foundation’s Head of Education Dr Onward Mandebvu. FQM believes that quality education is the key to success and is passionate about creating access to better education for children in local communities. Protecting learners at the core of initiative Dr Mandebvu said that the programme will have dual value for the learners, as it will occupy schoolchildren who could otherwise expose themselves to the COVID-19 risk, and will also provide them with high quality education, facilitated by some of the best teachers in Solwezi. Lessons cover subjects from literacy to maths and science to social studies, along with health tips and messages promoting the wellbeing of students and their families. Many lessons feature the now familiar jingles of coronavirus awareness messages and songs, which inform listeners about the symptoms of COVID-19 and measures to prevent its spread.

North-Western Province has one of the highest student drop-out rates in Zambia, according to the Ministry of General Education. In 2017, the province’s dropout rate was above the national average of 8.67 percent, standing at 11.56 percent, surpassing all other provinces except for Luapula with a rate of 15.03 percent. "We're trying to narrow the gap between schools closing and education coming through to reduce the instances of school drop-outs," said Dr Mandebvu. But radio alone, he admits, is not enough, "This is not about trying to be as good as classroom education." The move is part of the Kansanshi Foundation’s continued technical and resource support to local schools, which has led to improved literacy levels in communities surrounding its mining operations in the province. In April, the mining firm donated over 60,000 physical reading materials to accompany the radio classes. First Quantum has spent over US$100 million on its sustainability and community development programmes.Its education package extends from early childhood education programmes, through all levels of schooling to its Kwambula Training at the Solwezi Trades Training Institute (SOTTI). TOGETHER ·Q2, 2020 │21

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TACKLING ZAMBIA’S EDUCATION DEFICIT: HOW FQM’S SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA IS IMPROVING LIVES

ver the years Zambia’s primary education has generally improved, and there has been increased participation in secondary and higher education. However, one big challenge remains for Zambia's policymakers: how to make education accessible to every schoolchild in the face of increasing poverty. In most rural parts of the country, education remains unreachable to many due to the lack of adequate infrastructure and learning material to support the growing number of school-going children. The situation, if left unchecked, is likely to consign a whole generation of children and youth to a future of poverty, insecurity, and unemployment. It will also starve firms of the skills that are the lifeblood of enterprise and innovation. Tackling the problems in education requires action from two fronts: government and the private sector. The importance of the education sector to national development has been enshrined in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and Zambia’s Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). For this reason, mining giant First Quantum Minerals has aligned its community initiatives with the education sector in the provision of learning materials and the much-needed infrastructure.

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Through the Kansanshi Foundation in Solwezi and Trident Foundation in Kalumbila, FQM has stepped up its campaign in the fight against poverty, illiteracy, and inequality. The mining company believes that many problems of poverty and community needs are really problems of physical infrastructure: by providing infrastructure and basic services in communities, such as roads, housing, water, schools, and other services, development will be enhanced. “We have spent millions of dollars on our sustainability and community development programmes by aligning the Kansanshi and Trident foundations’ programme to the SDGs. The overall objective of our socio-economic development programmes is to improve the quality of life of the communities we operate in,” said FQM Country Manager General Kingsley Chinkuli. In its decades-long history in Zambia, FQM has invested more than $100 million in community development programmes, particularly the education sector, from formative early years education through to the Kwambula Training at the Solwezi Trades Training Institute. “Through our sustainability programmes, we also believe in supplementing government efforts to improve service provision and provide quality education by supporting education programmes such as adult literacy,” said Miriam Harmon,

Public Relations Coordinator at Kalumbila Minerals. She added that the emphasis is not necessarily on the monetary value but the benefit that both the community and nation at large will reap from the programmes.

development. Some initiatives the mining company has embarked on include early-childhood programmes, scholarships and apprenticeships, teacher training, and the construction of schools and staff housing.

Ms Harmon added that since the commencement of operations in Kalumbila, FQM has supported education in the areas of infrastructure upgrades in the District. The company assisted Kisasa Secondary School by constructing a one-by-three classroom block, VIP toilets and three teachers’ houses fitted with solar systems, constructed a one-by-three classroom block and three teachers houses for Musele Primary School, a one-by-three classroom block at Wanyiwa Primary School in Shinengene, one-by-three classroom block at Kankonzhi School, and provided roofing sheets and construction materials for a one-by-three classroom block at Kalumbila North School.

To improve the delivery of various services, key emphasis has been placed on infrastructure development. This ranges from roadside drainage, market stalls for traders and classrooms in government schools, to big-ticket items such as roads, airports, and entire residential towns. The need is most chronic in North-Western province, where FQM operates, because the area is poor and underdeveloped relative to long-established Copperbelt towns such as Kitwe, Ndola and Chingola.

The mine is currently supporting three other schools in the area: Chitungu, Chovwe and Kankonzhi primary schools. As Zambia’s largest private sector employer, the company believes that education is one of the most sustainable tools that stimulates communities towards social and economic

Ultimately, by accident or design, FQM has shared the development burden of Zambia with the government. Every kwacha spent on community development on behalf of ordinary Zambians is a kwacha that the government need not spend itself. For a mining company like FQM, helping to create strong, well-managed communities is both a social responsibility and a business imperative.

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MEET KACHIWALA SAPALO: INTEGRATING SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INTO MINING

ut Integrating sound environmental, safety and social management practices into mining operations is a huge challenge for the industry, but Kachiwala Sapalo, the new environmental manager at Kalumbila Minerals Limited, is determined to help leave a legacy of meaningful environmental and social performance at the mine, which is Zambia's largest infrastructure investment since the Kariba Dam was constructed in 1959.

“I was born in Kitwe a mining town, about 33 years ago. I grew up predominantly in Kitwe and did my education there, up to university level. I did my primary education at Nkana Trust Primary School up until grade seven, and then I progressed to Kitwe Boys Secondary School, after which I had an opportunity to study Environmental Engineering at the Copperbelt University,” said Mr Sapalo. “Working in the mining sector was my dream career. Working in the mine was a trend growing up in Kitwe, it being a mining town. Our neighbours would be shift bosses; would be mine captains, and so we aspired to working in the mine, because we would see them knocking off coming in mine vehicles. it was viewed as a rugged way of a man earning a living. So, for myself and most of us, it was a thing to do,” he explained. He did not know what profession to get into, but before he went to Copperbelt University, a lecturer explained to him about Environmental Engineering. “It was a very new program the time and I had a keen interest in it because I have always been passionate about the environment, about my surroundings. And so, I applied, and I got accepted. And when I began to study, I began to realise that this is actually what I was meant to do in my life and to pursue as a career.” After leaving university, he did an internship. He worked for a water utility firm in Kabwe, and then joined a mine on the Copperbelt, where he worked for two years and gained experience. He then joined Kalumbila Minerals. “I was thrilled to work on a greenfield project. I had initially worked for a mine that had been there for quite some time. And so, I felt here is an opportunity for me to make

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and to have an influence before active mining begins,” he continued. “I have been with Kalumbila Minerals for seven years. It has been a remarkable experience for me. I came in as an officer; it gave me an opportunity to understand the scope of the work that was here. And slowly with a lot of hard work; a lot of mentorship; a lot of dedication, today, I am holding this managerial position. It been a roller-coaster of and experience,” said Mr Sapalo. He explained that the Environmental Department has a vital role to play in the overall operation of the mine, in meeting the commitments the mining firm has made in managing the environment in its jurisdictions. “For us to continue operating in a sustainable manner we need to comply to all those commitments and our department comes in to give advice to the business, and to the operational units on the dos and the don’ts. “Our challenge has been to explain to our stakeholders that we are beyond just mining; that we are also about sustainability. And we are making progress on that venture to bring the stakeholders on board while we illustrate our long-term plans for the environment and for the community as well,” he added. The other major role the department plays is coordinating with government and that management has been supportive

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in ensuring the mining firm leaves a positive legacy. “The highlight of my career so far has been my appointment as Environmental Manager. When I came in seven years ago, I did not envision that I would reach this position in such a short period of time. So, it has been an absolute joy; but also, it comes with a challenge. The challenge is to maintain and to even do better. And as an individual I am committed to do so, I have a very good team to give me the support and management is also offering me the support and I am confident that we will do our best. “What gets me up in the morning is the passion I have for the environment. For me it not just a job, for me it is a calling. All of us have a duty to care. And how sustainability has been coined in the industry is that we are only here for short period of time. “My aspiration is in the next five to ten years is to become strategic in environmental management in the FQM group. To be able to pass on my own experience, which I would have gained by then, to those that would be coming on board to be able to transmit the culture of FQM, especially to the environmental practitioners. I believe there is a lot of opportunity to receive mentorship and it is more beneficial. The academic qualifications are good; the mentorship is more important,” he continued. Now married with two daughters, Mr Sapalo spends a lot of his free time playing or watching soccer, trying to exercise and keep fit. He also does a lot of reading, and he is learning how to do gardening in his spare time. “The legacy that we will leave with regards to environmental management is that of doing things in a structured manner. At the very beginning, getting it right; driving for results with the local resource, I believe that would be a very good legacy we would leave; one of being authentic and genuine in whatsoever we do. Also believing in what we are doing as the right thing, not because it is being done elsewhere, but because our operation is unique, it is peculiar, and it is got different challenges. Totally different from what other mining companies would have,” he said.

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WORKFORCE RECOGNISED FOR RESILIENCE

irst Quantum Minerals has underscored the vital role a resilient and wellcoordinated workforce plays in production and the overall success of its Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila District of North-Western Province. Despite the technological advances in the mining sector, the mining firm believes one of the most important things at any mine is its people, and that the people mine the copper, the machinery are but tools to make mining copper easier. Speaking during Kalumbila Minerals Limited's 2020 Labour Day Awards Ceremony on Friday, Assistant General Manager Junior Keyser called on management and mine unions to work together with workers’ interests at the forefront. “It is (Labour Day) a day when we want to recognise workers’ rights, their need for job security and the need for a safe working environment. These things enable high productivity. And obviously we need high productivity to survive and thrive as a business. So, therefore, we need to subscribe to all these good things,” he said. With the many different nationalities among its staff, establishing the right work culture and ethics leads to a happier workforce resulting in a successful organisation, he added. As the mining industry continues to push the boundaries of automation, the mining company is of the view that any serious mining firm needs to put a comprehensive skills development programme in place that can enable the local workforce to contribute to improving company operations. Speaking at the same event, Kalumbila Minerals’ Mine Operations Manager Rees Magrath, attributed the mine’s recent success to the passion and perseverance of its workforce. “Our recent successes are not because of a change in available resources our infrastructure and environment remain unchanged since commencement of operations. So, what has changed? “What makes us so much more resilient as a business to progress and yet deal with recent external threats to our survival; not only coping, but thriving?

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It is our people. Our passion. Our perseverance. Our team, and our way of finding opportunity in difficulty,” he said. “In the past, resilience was how well people can bounce back, but it’s not just about coping but rather about thriving. Nelson Mandela once famously said: ‘Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.’ This sums up the skill that is resilience. It is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity. Look around you. Adversity doesn’t discriminate and is ever-present,” he continued. National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) President Teddy Mwasha called on unions and management to work together if the mine is to progress. He further advised the recipients of the awards to encourage and motivate their fellow employees to take the mine to greater heights. “Top contributors to our resilient culture are here today and it's my humble privilege to recognise and award them. They have constantly displayed these skills in their workplaces inspiring positive change whilst excelling in their respective fields,” said Mr Magrath. Among the awards given out was the outstanding performance award, innovation award, most safety-conscious award, leadership recognition award, employee milestone award, as well as the resilience award. FQM is of the view that companies need to treat employees with respect and dignity, as well as paying them living wages and benefits tailored to their region, while providing them with the opportunities to advance and contribute to the best of their abilities through a variety of career paths. Kalumbila Minerals employees celebrate Labour Day

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EUSTER MWETELA: FQM’S MAN IN THE HOT SEAT

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as assistant superintendent, operations, and maintenance at a large underground mine. “Then an opportunity came to join First Quantum Minerals, and I couldn’t pass on that one,” he said. He was initially employed as a senior supervisor for materials handling, and then an opportunity arose to broaden his responsibility to the primary smelting operation, in addition to materials handling, and he was made a senior supervisor for those two sections. In 2016 he was elevated to mechanical superintendent, after his performance and contribution came to the attention of management. In the same year, he was given an opportunity to train within the company on the supervisors’ training programme under the mentorship of very senior Kansanshi managers. In 2018, management from the smelter and the Kansanshi mine provided Mr Mwetela another opportunity to further his career by offering him the chance to join the company’s CEO programme, aimed at improving high level managerial skills among local staff.

Euster Mwekela, First Quantums Minerals' Kansanshi Smelter Mechanical Superintendent, is the man to admire for easily managing to work on a hot seat. Thanks to the CEO training programme which has made him develop skills taking him to new heights. From being born in Ndola and going to school in Kafue, Mr Mwetela is now one of the many senior staff taking on management positions with the country’s largest copper producer. “The challenges are plenty; we are expected to smelt around 3,800 to 4,400 tonnes of concentrate a day. You find that every hour counts. If you lose 72 hours in a month, you lose production for that month, and you find that the cost of production for that month increases based on the quantity that you have not been able to produce,” explained Mr Mwetela, who is a mechanical superintendent for primary smelting and material handling at FQM’s Kansanshi Smelting Plant. “You have to be consistently on top of everything that you do, and see to it that you first of all try to support your team, then the other teams, to ensure that the smelter meets its 28│ TOGETHER · Q2, 2020

targeted throughput per day, otherwise then you fail to meet the pound/ton cost targets at the end of the month, which has a big implication on the cost of production for Kansanshi and to some extent FQM as a whole. We need to make a profit, and the only way you can make profit is to stick to the targets that you are supposed to run at,” he said. Forty-four-year-old Mr Mwetela is one of the many Zambians the mining giant has provided with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and abilities through working with some of the most driven and talented specialists in their field, or having more access to senior leaders with a track record of delivering significant projects. While born in Ndola on the Copperbelt, he went to school in Kafue and Livingstone, where he did his primary education, and senior secondary education at Hillcrest Technical Secondary, respectively, before going to the University of Zambia to study mechanical engineering. After university, he joined a construction company, where he worked for three years, before joining an underground mining company in 2010 as a project engineer. He was then appointed

He was selected to go to the company’s operations in Mauritania and work on a different project from what he normally does. This time he was given a different challenge in Inventory Optimisation for the mine site and had to work on a different mine and with a different general manager, with a different team and a different environment. “The team from Mauritania helped to mentor me in a different perspective from what my everyday life was like at the smelter,” he said. “I spent seven months in Mauritania, and the inventory optimisation project was something different that I had never done before, but it gave me a big opportunity to interact with some of the big decision makers in First Quantum Minerals. “This project offered me an opportunity to deal directly with some of the directors of FQM as well as presidents and directors of major mining equipment suppliers across the globe. The general manager at Mauritania Copper Mines was very helpful and gave me every opportunity to interact with the managers at the mine; everyone across the globe (Africa, Australia and Europe), that could make an impact on the Inventory project. This was a very important project for FQM, and we needed tangible results,” he continued.

While in Mauritania, Mr Mwetela led negotiating ventures that translated into the sale of US$4.8 million of spare parts and removed them from MCM’s mine inventory. Two further deals remain in progress to offload another US$5-7 million-worth of inventory to major mining equipment suppliers. Now back at home to his wife and two sons, Mr Mwetela says the CEO programme enlightened him in the aspects of how other sites are operating, and he now understands that inventory is another key part of the daily activities that general managers and their teams on all the sites have to manage to ensure that FQM’s financial position remains strong. “When I joined FQM, I joined as a senior supervisor for a small section, but my duties expanded to cover other areas of the plant, which gave me an opportunity to know other operations of the plant, and through dedication and commitment, I was elevated to mechanical superintendent.” “I look forward to one day being in a different role and position, because if you look at the progression, there is still room to grow to other management positions,” he said. He added that challenges will always be there, and it is important to be self-driven and be able to do what you tell people you are going to do, and also be bold at the decisions you make and ask yourself what you need to do to help grow your company’s portfolio. “A lot of managers and colleagues from FQM’s Kansanshi, Sentinel, FQMO, Mauritania, Cobre Panama, Cayeli in Turkey and Las Cruces in Spain and others from big mining firms and suppliers have helped me to be where I am today in FQM.” Away from his busy schedule, Mr Mwetela spends a lot of his free time with his family, as well as getting the much-needed rest so he can have a fresh mind when he goes back to the office.

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FQM CALLS FOR TIME TO PRESERVE NATURE

irst Quantum Minerals has continued to call for recognition of effective environmental management programmes for mining operations, which should strive for protection of the ecosystem, add value to local biodiversity and safeguard Zambia’s biodiversity.

The mining firm is of the view that good mining practices should not end at keeping the mine site clean, but should extend to environmental activities such as protection of shared water resources, effective ecological restoration, conservation of forest resources, protection of wildlife, prevention of pollution and promotion of general environmental stewardship.

This year’s World Environment Day was celebrated under the theme Biodiversity – Time for Nature.

Environmental Manager Kachiwala Sapalo said environmental protection should be at the centre of all mining operations, to ensure that the ecosystem is preserved and protected. Speaking at a World Environment Day media workshop at Kalumbila, Mr Sapalo said: “We realise that biodiversity is important because it’s from nature that we are able to have clean air to breathe; it’s from nature where we are able to have clean water to drink and have a livelihood. So, biodiversity for 30│ TOGETHER · Q2, 2020

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Songwe commended the mining firm for its quick response to concerns raised by the agency on environmental issues. “So far, our cooperation has been good. What we raise as a regulator, the mine quickly jumps in and begins to work to correct, which is commendable. I would encourage the mine to continue doing the same, to putting the same resources, to putting the same effort, to ensure that our regulations are followed. “The operation has been such that there has been minimal disturbance to the environment and to our biodiversity. Yes, there was clearing of land to set up the mine. But what we have seen as ZEMA so far, it has been limited to the areas of operation. And when you look at the tailings dam, there has been revegetation that is progressively going on, not waiting for the mine to close,” he said.

us, even when the project was acquired in 2010, became an import part of our planning. We began to look ahead and say Kalumbila Minerals will be developed as a greenfield project and we need to coexist with the environment that we find in place.”

Kalumbila Minerals Assistant General Manager Junior Keyser reaffirmed that the company subscribes to providing resources to promote sustainable management of the environment through sound engineering practises.

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“World Environment Day is to us not just any other day marked on the calendar. It is not an annual event. Here at Sentinel, World Environment Day is part of our wellbeing; it is part of our lives. It is an opportunity to raise our voices; to raise awareness regarding environmental stewardship. “And we are very much aware and committed to making sure that our operations continue in a manner that is environmentally responsible and doesn’t have a negative impact on the ecosystem and eventually the biodiversity,” he continued. All aspects of First Quantum’s strategy are designed to minimise or offset any negative impacts on biodiversity while reinforcing a broader commitment to sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, social, and economic. Speaking at the same event, Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) principal inspector Morrison

FQM is the country’s largest taxpayer, and it employs over 8,800 people. Its mines have a finite life – 25 years in the case of Kansanshi and 17-18 years in the case of Sentinel. And the company does not want to walk away and leave the area to its fate. It wants to leave a tangible positive legacy that will enable communities to continue to prosper as viable economies in their own right. This goes beyond token “corporate social responsibility”; the mine has a duty of care to the people and environment of North-Western Province and wants to earn its social licence to operate. This philosophy is deeply engrained in the fabric of the company.

A safe and reliable road network is key to reducing oprational costs and damages to the company’s fleet

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CONSERVATION FARMING PROGRAMME GOES DIGITAL WITH INTERACTIVE MAP

xperts at First Quantum Minerals have developed an interactive map that pinpoints the smallholder farms supported under the Kansanshi Foundation conservation farming (CF) programme, enabling them to better tailor interventions to improve food security around its operations in North-Western Province. The publicly accessible online site, which is the brainchild of the Kansanshi Foundation team, displays maps and data that illustrate how the CF programme has gained and maintained momentum. “The idea for the interactive site was developed after the mining firm identified an information gap on publicly available data on conservation farming, and also on the need to maximise efficiency on monitoring and evaluation of the programme,” explained Kansanshi Mine resettlement supervisor Michael Longhurst. The interactive map and data offers a rare bird’s-eye view of the scale of conservation farming around the mine’s areas of operation, while also providing

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a research tool for various stakeholders and interested parties, added Longhurst. No personal data is stored on the site, however. “The success of integrating technology has allowed the FQM team to identify areas of weakness and strength in the programme while supporting the farmers, resulting in improvement of results,” he said. In the 2019/20 season the farmers under the programme had a bumper harvest, producing 6,000 tonnes of maize. The CF project started in 2010 with seven pilot plots measuring a total of 1.5 hectares. Currently, there are over 7,000 participants growing over 1500 hectares of mixed crops, mainly maize, groundnuts and soya beans. Under the project, the mining firm provides education, close monitoring, and input loans to farmers. The system revolves around a sustainable permaculture rotation of maize, Solwezi beans, cow peas, soya beans and groundnuts with minimum tillage, use of mulch, and training farmers on the importance of early planting. Conservation farming is now acknowledged by the Zambian government as the best practice for maximising yields whilst combating climate change and soil degradation. The map can be viewed at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/

A safe and reliable road network is key to reducing oprational costs and damages to the company’s fleet

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DRILL AND BLAST OPERATIONS AT SENTINEL MINE

By Stephen Chanda (B.Eng, MSc Mining Engineering) Assistant Mine Planning Engineer-Drill and Blast

entinel is a large-scale open pit mining operation, where the broken rock from the pit is excavated using a modern fleet of shovels and trucks. The optimum size of the broken rock is the first step of the mining process which can streamline the downstream processes of loading, hauling and crushing (Figure 1). This first step of the process is Drilling and Blasting. In order to liberate or break the insitu rock, a method like the traditional fire triangle is used (Figure 2). This is drilling, charging and initiation (blasting). Drilling ensures that explosives are placed in the correct location. Charging ensures that the correct amount of explosive energy is placed in each hole, and initiation ensures that this energy is released in a proper and coordinated manner to cause effective rock breakage. its community health programmes, it cannot effectively work without help from its stakeholders in the community. “Our local traditional leaders play a particularly important role in spreading messages and influencing the community positively, and we also

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work within government ministries to ensure the contingency plans are implemented within the government policy framework,” she continued. First Quantum has long made healthcare a priority in all the communities where it operates. The challenge, especially in less prosperous regions, is where to draw the line between problems that the company has a responsibility to help address, and those that remain within the mandate of the public healthcare system. “It is for this reason that the company has aligned its community initiatives with every one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a move that puts it at the forefront of best practice in private sector social investment locally and globally,” she said. Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all age, addressed by FQM’s various healthcare initiatives and agriculture support.

FQM’s efforts to improve communitybased health services while advancing disease prevention are framed by a broader vision of where corporate support can have the most impact. For any mining company, workplace health and community well-being are inextricably linked. Ms Musunka explained that using its six health pillars, the mining firm has also been focusing on the workplace and the community with water hygiene and sanitation, communicable and non-communicable diseases awareness programmes, as well as health systems strengthening.

Drilling Drilling is the action of making a hole in the ground. In order to attain proper rock fragmentation, drill holes must be drilled in the correct location and drilled to the correct depth. Traditionally, two methods of drilling namely, Percussion and Rotary drilling exists and are employed at the Sentinel Mine.

She added that in early 2019, FQM replaced the roof, doors, electrical wiring and incubators that were damaged by a storm at Solwezi General Hospital’s maternity wing at an estimated cost of K1.1 million. FQM has spent over US$100 million on its sustainability and community development programmes to improve the health and the quality of life for its employees, their families and their immediate communities.

In Percussion Drilling, drilling is achieved by the vibration of the drill bit back and forth by means of a piston. The movement of the piston delivers the mechanical energy from the hammer to the bit directly. The rock drill piston strikes the drill bit directly, while the hammer casing gives straight and stable guidance of the drill bit. As the bit receives blows, the rotary head provides rotation that ensure that the bit impact new rock surface with each blow. The drill chippings are flushed from the hole either by compressed air or water, thereby achieving the hole depth at an efficient rate, while ensuring minimal deviation and greater hole wall stability, even in fissured or otherwise demanding rock.

Rotary drilling as opposed to percussion drilling cuts by rotating the bit at the bottom of the hole. In addition to rotating, onward pressure exerted on the bit ensures continuous cutting through the rock formation. Rotary crushing uses tricone bits relying on crushing and spalling the rock. This is accomplished by transferring downforce, known as pulldown, to the bit while rotating in order to drive the teeth into the hole bottom as the three cones rotate around their respective axis (Atlas Copco, 2000). Sentinel Mine employs a fleet of six (6) percussion drill rigs (140mm – 165mm hole diameter) for trim and final wall blasting. Production drilling is conducted by a fleet of ten (10) rotary drill rigs with hole diameters of 229mm, 270mm and 311mm.

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Figure 5: Drill pattern and an initiation design.

Drill and Blast Design Drill and blast design at Sentinel is done by using specialised software. This software allows the design of blast patterns and visualisation and analysis of initiation operations. The advanced loading rules enables us to easily develop optimum design of loading and powder factors according to actual rock properties, diameter of hole and the require stemming. When designing presplit and trim blasts, the 3D design environment allows the blast engineer to rotate the blastholes from any angle and proximity giving him a clear view and analysis of blast holes before they are issued. Blast initiation can also be analysed using the calculation

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Figure 6: Blast plan showing angle initiation.

tool. This gives the engineer an idea of the burden relief, initiation sequence and the material movement prior to blasting. The electrical drill rig fleet is fitted with high precision GPS guidance and data recording systems to ensure drill hole placement and data accuracy during drilling operations. The system uses high-precision GPS, blast-hole coordinates, a wireless radio network, drill sensors, and onboard field computers to provide continuous guidance to drill operators on where and how to drill.

Figure 11: XPLOLOGTM Website dashboard (Reporter) showing several drill pattern parameters

Initiation (Blasting) An initiation system is a combination of explosive devices and component accessories specifically designed to convey a signal and initiate an explosive charge from a safe distance. The initiation system performs the function of transmitting and controlling of firing signal to each explosive charge in a blast hole. Electronic Delay Detonators (EDD) are programmable, highly accurate detonators with a delay range of 0ms to 15,000ms.

Figure 12: Charging operations at the Sentinel Mine

Figure 7: Real time position of the rig on the onboard computer, showing movement of a drill to the next hole

Figure 8: Magnified view - Positioning of the drill into the crosshairs with the hole position

Figure 9: Display of current drilling position

Charging Charging is the process of putting explosives in the drilled holes. An explosive is a chemical compound which when properly initiated is rapidly and violently converted into energetic gases at high temperatures and pressures. Sentinel Mine employs a blasting contractor for the on-site manufacturing of explosives and execute all the blast hole charging activities. Different formulations of emulsion explosives are used depending on the blast energy requirements. The emulsion formulations differ in the ratio of fuel (e.g. used oil, diesel), emulsion, additives and ammonium nitrate content. Explosives are delivered to the pit from the on-site emulsion plant using a fleet of Mobile Manufacturing Units (MMUs), which are capable of pumping and auguring the bulk explosives. Charging operations is guided using an on-bench data logging platform. The system links the computer-based drill and blast design with the mobile field loggers used by blasters in the pit to ensure accurate execution of the design for optimal blast results.

Figure 14: EDD

Figure 11: XPLOLOGTM Website dashboard (Reporter) showing several drill pattern parameters

Figure 10: Explosives used at the Sentinel Mine

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Blast Movement Monitoring Sentinel mine uses blast movement monitoring technology to track material movement during blasting to understand the effect of blasting on ore displacement and dilution. The technology is based on the installation of radio frequency identification balls into dedicated monitoring holes prior to blasting and their 3D position is recorded after blasting. The movement vectors calculated from the RFID balls pre- and post-blast positions inform the technical team on blast associated ore movement which then guides the geologists to generate accurate ore and waste mark-out plans. This method is limited to 2D and uses only 5 to 10 RFID balls which limits the accuracy and reliability of the modelled results.

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Drill and Blast Quality Control and Assurance Quality Control and Assurance (QAQC) is a technical function which is focused on ensuring quality performance of the Drill and Blast operations at Sentinel Mine. The QAQC process covers the entire drill and blast workflow – from drill bench preparation through to final blast fragmentation analysis.

As a way of continuous improvement, FQM has developed an in-house 3D blast movement modelling program (QBI) which takes into account all drill and blast design parameters, pre- and post-blast Survey information and Geological data to model blast movement specific to each individual blast. The system uses machine learning and artificial intelligence, so each new data set entry and movement model allows the program to learn, resulting in improvement in the prediction capability. This increases the confidence in the prediction of the movement of material during a blast to allow for greater post-blast mark out quality and confidence.

Figure 17: QAQC Checklist

Conclusion Sentinel Mine has a very strong focus on the use of modern drilling and blasting technology to achieve optimal blasting results. The technology is supported by a well-developed QAQC process and a dedicated team of technical and operational personnel to ensure the technology is used to its full potential. This focus and dedication have led to significant improvements in rock fragmentation and pit wall control as well as increased mining equipment and process plant productivity and embodies FQMs vision of working Bolder, Smarter, Driven and Together.

Figure 16: Example of Blast Fragmentation Curve

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TOGETHER NEWS

Address Trident Foundation Kalumbila North-Western Province Zambia

Contact info Phone- +260 974113728 EMail- info@langmead.com

Web Info www.first-quantum.com Facebook- www.facebook.com/ FQMZambia/ info@fqml.com