New data has revealed that the anticipated […]

New data has revealed that the anticipated Lumwana mine airport project is, in fact, the relocation of the airstrip which forms part of the mine’s $2 billion expansion initiative. According to official reports, Lumwana Mine’s expansion will include the development of water management infrastructure such as dams, diversion channels, and sediment ponds, as well as the relocation of the airstrip, and the expansion of construction camps, haul roads, and laydown areas.

 These measures form part of an extensive investment plan that will underpin mining activities through 2059. A central element of the project is selecting a new conveyor route, with two alternatives—across or around the tailings storage facility (TSF)—undergoing feasibility studies.

The results determined the southern route as unsuitable. The preferred conveyor route, which travels southwest of Kamisengo Pit and around the TSF, will necessitate moving the current airstrip. Four potential sites for the new airstrip were evaluated, with further details available in the project’s alternatives assessment.

The proposed airstrip, intended primarily for Lumwana personnel but potentially serving commercial flights, will be 2,500 meters in length and developed within the current SRB. The airstrip’s construction is budgeted at approximately $10 million and is scheduled for completion between 2025 and 2028. Earlier, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics had clarified that the upcoming Lumwana Airport project is a private initiative spearheaded by Lumwana Mine and not a government undertaking.

 This statement came amid growing interest about the project’s scope, investment, and regulatory approvals. When contacted by the Zambian Business Times (ZBT) for details regarding the project’s cost, approval status, and the types of aircraft expected to use the facility, Ernest Chanda, Principal Public Relations Officer at the Ministry, emphasized the government’s limited involvement.

 “That is not under our Ministry; what I mean is that it is not a government project. It is a private project because, as far as I know, we are not constructing any airport in the North-Western Province. You can follow it up with Lumwana. Private entities, when they have the resources, have the right to apply for land and develop their own infrastructure. As the government, we can’t interfere with that, so please follow up with them,” Chanda stated.

 According to an official report reviewed by ZBT, Lumwana Mine plans to invest approximately $10 million in the construction of the airstrip, targeted for completion over four years from 2025 to 2028. The development forms part of the mine’s broader expansion project. When asked about the total investment, types of aircraft to be accommodated, and project timelines, Chanda encouraged media and interested parties to submit formal queries for more detailed information.

Article by Tyndale Muchiya