PLR Project Zambia Limited, an Indian Manganese Mining Firm, has disclosed that it supplies about one hundred and fifty metric tonnes of manganese per month to Kafue Steel.

And Central Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kabwe has invited potential investors attending the Investment Forum and Expo to consider setting up a steel plant in Serenje or Mkushi to enhance value addition to manganese.

The Permanent Secretary says the two Districts are endowed with minerals used in making of steel, batteries, alloys and pigments but most of it is being exported in row form.

Mr. Kabwe notes that investing in steel plant will guarantee good profit.

He has urged the delegates to the region’s biggest exhibition next month to explore opportunities in Manganese ore.

The two Districts are known for their endowment in manganese but all of it is currently supplied to Kafue Steal in Lusaka Province and exported in Middle East, South Africa and Europe.

Mr. Kabwe said this when he toured PLR Project Zambia Limited, an Indian firm which was commissioned last year, with a US$500,000 in the processing of manganese ore.

And PLR Project Zambia Limited Managing Director, Prakasa Rao, said the company supplies about 150 metric tonnes of manganese per month to Kafue Steel.

Mr. Rao says the smelting company produced 40 metric tonnes of manganese every day for exports to South Africa, Kenya, Europe and the Middle East besides the local market.

He says the company is engaged in the extraction, processing as well as refining and marketing of manganese and associated metals from geological formations in Central and Luapula Provinces.

The company’s project comprises open pit mining operations for base metals, a processing plant in Serenje and associated infrastructure to mine and process ore from defined resources in manganese deposits.

The company has more than 150 workers while another 1,500 have been engaged indirectly.

The forthcoming Central Province Investment Forum and Expo that will take place from 8 to 13 October 2018 at Mulungushi University Main Campus is expected to attract more than 150 investors to stir the value addition industry.