KCM liquidator sends top Indian expatriates on forced leave

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), which is being run by Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu (pictured), has sent six Indian expatriates on forced leave.

This is said to be in an effort to give the liquidator control of the mining company.

The reasoning is that the Indian expatriates are running strategic departments of the mining company and if left in their positions, the company risks getting sabotaged.

On Wednesday June 19, 2019, KCM announced that it has sent on leave the Head Commercial, Finance General Manager and Chief Information Officer.

KCM General Manager for Corporate Affairs Eugene Chungu has confirmed the development to this publication.

Chungu said those leading the team on forced leave were Chief Commercial Officer Sanjay Jain, Manager Finance Anand Soni and Chief Information Officer Rajesh Bhatia.

He said three other expatriate employees from India asked to be de-seconded back to their home units in the Vedanta Group, making the total number of the expatriates on forced leave to come to six.

Meanwhile, sources within the Nchanga Mine have revealed that operations have drastically slowed down due to lack of spares and other challenges created by non payment of suppliers.

The source indicated that full operations can only be normalised by June 22, after some of the machines have been repaired following procurement of new spares.