Mine closures weigh on mining output

Last year, state-owned mining company BCL Mine closed its loss-making copper and nickel operation together with Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC) and Mowana Mine. Data from the statistics office shows that the index of mining production stood at 77.1 in the first quarter of 2017, showing a year-on-year decline of 14.4% from 90.1 during the 2016 first quarter.

The quarter-on-quarter changes in the mining production reflect a 6.4% decline from 82.4 during the fourth quarter of 2016. Statistician General, Anna Majelantle said the closure of the three copper-nickel mines as well as unstable world commodity prices for all minerals are the major factors that contributed negatively to the growth of mining production during the first quarter of 2017.