Zambia extends period for investors to bid for oil exploration

By John Chola – 11/08/09

Zambia has extended the period for interested local and international investors to bid for petroleum exploration from this August to November.

A Ministerial Petroleum Committee said that the extension of the bidding process had been necessitated by requests by some international investors interested in petroleum exploration in the country.

The deadline to bid for petroleum exploration had been extended to Friday, November 6, 2009.

Petroleum companies who had already submitted their bids were being allowed to retrieve and refine their documents without incurring any extra costs.

The Ministerial Committee chaired by Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Maxwell Mwale said investors that wanted to submit bids can obtain document from the office of the permanent secretary in his ministry.

Investors can also purchase the data package relating to the bidding process from the Geological Survey Department.
Other details of the bidding process can be accessed by visiting Zambia’s Geological Survey department website.

The results of laboratory analyses from Germany had indicated that there was potential for oil and gas in Zambia’s North Western, Western and Eastern Provinces.

The deadline for bidding process was supposed to expire on 7th August 2009.

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On June 25th 2009 Zambia invited bids from local and international companies for petroleum exploration licensing round for 23 blocks existing in three provinces.

Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development requested bidders to demonstrate a proven ability to raise the necessary funds, assets and machinery.

The bidding companies were also expected to have appropriate equipment, tools and technical expertise to explore, produce, sale and dispose of petroleum in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Zambia demanded that bidding companies purchase a complete data package in English and pay a non-refundable application fee of ten thousand US dollars or Zambian kwacha equivalent per block.

Interested investors had been encouraged to purchase some of the data by email through Zambia’s Geological Survey Department. gsd@zamnet.zm, seismic@coppernet.zm.

Interested investors had initially until 14:30 hours of Friday, 7th August 2009 to purchase and submit their bids to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in Zambia.

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Zambian President rejects calls for him to resign.

By John Chola - 25/06/09

Zambia's President Rupiah Banda has rejected wide calls by opposition politicians, civil society and other interest groups for him to resign.

Banda says those calling for his resignation are just wasting their time and cheating themselves as he will never bow down to their demands.

Banda says opposition politicians, civil society groups, striking civil servants and others calling for his resignation are unnecessarily inciting the nation.

He has described as untrue pronouncements by some media, politicians, striking civil servants and others that majority Zambians have lost confidence in his leadership.

Banda says he is well informed that majority of Zambia’s over 12 million people believe in his leadership and only want him to deliver by improving their welfare.

Recently many of Zambia’s over 30 opposition leaders have teamed up against Banda asking him to resign and allow new Presidential elections.

Banda has been accused of abrogating the Republican constitution by re-appointing a Minister recently found guilty of breaching the supreme law of the land by a judicial tribunal.

The Zambian President is also accused of being insensitive to the plight of thousands of government workers who receive meager salaries.

Banda administration has refused to award government workers have been demanding improved saralies and other conditions of service.

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South Africa's Eskom expected to set up a 400 megawatt power generating plant in Zambia.

By John Chola -23/06/09

South Africa’s energy company Eskom is expected to set up a 400 megawatt electricity generating plant in Zambia.

The 400 megawatt plant is expected to be established at Maamba which hosts Zambia’s Maamba Collieries Limiteds, a coal mining company.

Media reports in Zambia today indicate that Eskom will want to utilize the low grade coal of Maamba Collieries Limited which is ideal for the venture.

A Manager at Zambia’s Maamba Collieries Limited (a mine based in the Southern part of the country) has told a government ran media that Eskom is willing to buy and utilize the low grade coal reported to be lying idle at the mine.

There is currently 60, 000 metric tones of already mined coal begging for a market at Maamba Collieries Limited.

A total of 78.2 million tonnes of coal reserves is estimated available in the Maamba Collieries assigned area.

Over 60.2 million tonnes of coal is proven and 18 million tonnes is probable.
Further exploration and reserve development is in order as the underground potential may well be greater than known today.

There are two open cast mines operating at Maamba in the Kanzize and Izuma basins with an annual capacity to produce between 600,000 and 800,000 metric tonnes of saleable coal, depending on demand and other constraints.

The Zambian government says reserves in the Maamba assigned area can last for at least ninety seven (97) years assuming that the mine is operating at full capacity and producing 800,000 metric tonnes of coal per annum.

There is a Coal Preparation Plant (CPP) with a rated capacity to wash about 700,000 to 800,000 metric tonnes of coal per year.

The existing ropeway has the capacity to transport between 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes to Masuku Railway Terminal per annum.

A company called Scrirocca Limited was last April awarded a contract to mine Maamba coal.

Scrirocca Limited has invested US$ 7 million in Maamba.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), through the Zambia Privatisation Agency (ZPA) has put up Maamba Collieries Limited for privatisation through an acquisition of a controlling stake by suitably qualified private sector investors.

The government approved the sale of at least 70% shares by competitive tender.

Government says it is open to considering various innovative arrangements, as may be proposed by the potential investor that would result in control of mine moving to the private sector and result in the recapitalisation of Zambia's major coal producer.

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Zambia Police to circumcise all male recruits

By John Chola - 20/06/09

The Zambia Police Service is introducing a mandatory circumcision policy for all male recruits.

A Police training school commanding Officer (Malcom Mulenga) says male circumcision will help prevent HIV and AIDS cases in the Police service.

The decision follows evidence that Zambia Police Service has been losing a lot of qualified manpower as a result of HIV/AIDS.

And Zambia’s Home Affairs Ministry has welcomed plans by the Zambia Police Service to circumcise male recruits.

Police recruits will undergo circumcision at Zambia’s major hospital University Teaching Hospital, district hospitals and other police health centres being built with support from the United States at a cost of ZAR 2.5 million (1.5 billion Kwacha).

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