Copper Production Up

Zambia

Zambia Mines Minister Wilbur Simuusa told the Zambia Daily Mail that copper production increased from 490,930 tons from January to September 2010 to 504,322 tons during the same period in 2011 and is projected to increase to 800,000 tons at the end of 2011. The minister said new mining projects have now progressed to mine development stage, adding that this will result in further increased production in Africa's largest copper producing country.

Wind Power

Kenya

Kenya will become East Africa's leader in renewable energy when a finance deal for the country's largest wind farm is concluded. Carlo Van Wageningen, Chairman of Lake Turkana Wind Power, the wind farm's sponsor, said at the climate change talks in Durban that the conclusion of the deal paves the way for the $791 million plant to produce electricity in the third quarter of 2012 before reaching peak capacity a year later. The Turkana wind farm, billed as one of the largest in the world, is being financed through a 30 percent syndicated loan arranged by the African Development Bank.