Lumwana

Lumwana
Lumwana Location in Zambia
Coordinates:
Country	Zambia
Province	North-Western Province
District	Mwinilunga District
Elevation	4,460 ft (1,360 m)
Population (2010 Estimate)
• Total	5,000

'Lumwana is a mining town located in Zambia's Solwezi District, North-Western Province. It is located approximately 170 kilometres (110 mi), by road, west of Solwezi and about 96 kilometres (60 mi), by road, east of Mwinilunga along the T5 Highway. This location lies approximately 660 kilometres (410 mi), by road, northwest of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and the largest city in that country.

History

Prior to 1999, Lumwana was a rural village. In 1999, Equinox Minerals Limited acquired the nearby Lumwana Copper Mine. Over the next ten years, working with its Zambian subsidiary, Lumwana Mining Company Limited, Equinox carried out feasibility studies, sourced financing and constructed the present infrastructure. The mine was commissioned in December 2008 and is the largest employer in the town. In July 2011, Barrick Gold acquired a 100% interest in Lumwana mine. As of second quarter 2013, the mine employoed approximately 1,850 employees and 4,400 contractors. In addition to copper, the mine also produces cobalt, gold, and uranium. An economic development zone, called Lumwana Multi-Facility Economic Zone (LMFEZ), is being developed around the mining operations, to include among others; manufacturing, agroprocessing, hotels and resorts.

Transport

Presently, Lumwana is linked to Solwezi, the Headquarters of North Western Province, by an 175 kilometres (109 mi) paved road. The closest air transport facilities are in Solwezi (170 kilometres (110 mi)) and Mwinilunga (96 kilometres (60 mi)). There are also two old gravel airstrips within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of the Lumwana. These can handle light aircraft. One of the airstrips, located in the northern part of Chief Mukumbi’s area has been historically used by the Flying Doctor Service. Plans to build a rail line from Chingola, through Lumwana, to join the Angolan Benguela Railway east of Luacano, have reached an advanced stage. In September 2013, the Government of the Republic of Zambia expressed its intentions to advertise the North-West Railway (NWR) project to both local and foreign investors who would be interested to develop the infrastructure.

Population

The population of Lumwana was estimated at less than 1,000 in 1999. With 1,000 new homes constructed in the town since then, it is estimated that the population of the town in 2010, was approximately 5,000.

Points of interest

The following points of interest lie within the town of Lumwana, or close to its borders:

• The offices of Lumwana Town Council
• Lumwana Farmers Market - The largest source of fresh produce in the town.
• Lumwana Copper Mine - A private copper mine that employs over 3,800 people, administered by Equinox Minerals Limited and its subsidiary Lumwana Mining Company Limited.
• A branch of Investrust Bank - A medium-sized commercial bank, licensed by the national banking regulator, the Bank of Zambia.
• Lumwana Premier Resort - An international standard hotel accommodation in Manyama close to Lumwana mine and within an hour's drive to Solwezi and Kalumbila

External links

• Map Showing Lumwana at Google Maps
• Profile At Infomine.com
• Planning of Central Business District In Progress

See also

• Lusaka
• Mwinilunga
• Mwinilunga District
• Solwezi
• Northwestern Province, Zambia