But the lure of the Copperbelt continues to spawn one feasibility study after another

The most ambitious dig on the Copperbelt will be Konkola Copper Mines Plc's 200,000-tonne-a-year Konkola Deep mining project, which Anglo American Plc abandoned when world copper prices stagnated at the start of this decade. New owner Vedanta Resources Plc is close to approving the scheme. "Essentially, we are in the process of fast-tracking the feasibility study on the Konkola Deep project," a Vedanta spokesman said. "The board hasn't yet made a decision on whether to go ahead with the expansion and on what terms, but once the feasibility study is complete (the board will) make a decision on the type and scale of the project." The ongoing study hasn't stopped the company from issuing a tender for the construction of a 4,900-foot shaft for ore and waste hoisting.