Zambia copper mines resume output: minister

Copper mines in Zambia, Africa’s top producer of the metal, have resumed output after a nationwide blackout led to a halt in production, the country’s mines minister told Reuters on Saturday.

“The mines resumed output after the power was restored. It is obvious that production came down but they are still assessing the losses,” Maxwell Mwale said.

A fault at a hydro power station triggered the blackout across the southern African nation on Friday.

Power blackouts are frequent in Zambia, and are a big concern for foreign mining companies who own most of the key mines in the country’s copper-endowed Copperbelt province, and could hamper the country’s push to grow output further.

Reuters.