ZCCM

Zambia concludes mine tax audits after slapping huge bill on First Quantum

Reuters Staff

LUSAKA, May 7 (Reuters) - Zambia concluded audits of mining companies that prompted the nation to slap Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals with a tax bill of over 76.5 billion Zambian kwacha ($8 billion), its revenue authority said on Monday.

First Quantum, which owns two copper mines in Zambia, said in March that Zambia’s tax agency had demanded the taxes, saying they were on import duties, penalties and interest on consumables and spare parts.

There are dozens of mining companies operating in Zambia, mainly extracting copper.

The ZRA said on Monday it had audited all the major mining companies in Zambia and informed them what they owed.

“The results of the customs audit have since been communicated in writing to our tax payers. Some of them are responding, while others have asked for more time which we have since granted,” said in a statement.

“Please note that this is a normal audit process and that the authority is not targeting any particular company.”

ZRA said it would issue another update once the audit process was completed.

Other major mining companies operating in Zambia include Vedanta Resources, Barrick Gold Corp and Glencore. ($1 = 10.0000 Zambian kwachas) (Reporting by Chris Mfula Editing by James Macharia)

La Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), autorité responsable du fisc en Zambie, a annoncé lundi qu’elle a audité toutes les grandes compagnies minières opérant dans le pays, afin d’évaluer leurs dettes fiscales. Le processus d’audits a commencé plus tôt cette année et conduit la ZRA à transmettre en mars dernier une facture d’impôts de 8 milliards $ à First Quantum Minerals.
«Les résultats de l’audit douanier ont déjà été communiqués par écrit à nos contribuables. Certains réagissent et d’autres demandent plus de temps, ce que nous avons depuis accordé.», indique l’autorité dans un communiqué.
Elle a précisé qu’il s’agit d’un processus d’audit normal et qu’elle ne cible aucune entreprise en particulier.
Outre First Quantum, les autres grandes sociétés minières actives en Zambie comprennent Vedanta Resources, Barrick Gold ou encore Glencore. La plupart d’entre elles sont actives dans l’exploitation du cuivre, qui est l’un des piliers de l’économie du pays.
La Zambie prévoit de produire un million de tonnes ou plus de cuivre cette année.