Base Metals

Compared to precious and noble metals, base metals oxidise, tarnish or corrode relatively easily, especially when exposed to moist air.

Base metals are widely used in commercial and industrial applications and are more abundant in nature and therefore cheaper than precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

They are widely found in Africa, particularly along the copper belt which is found in central Africa and runs through Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Base metals include aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc.

Copper

Copper is mostly found in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and in the DRC. Most copper is used in electrical equipment such as wiring and motors because it conducts both heat and electricity very well and can be drawn into wires.

Countries that have rich copper resources in Africa have beneficiation difficulties and exporting unfinished mineral products.

As such it is important that VBKOM assists its clients to mine strategically and improve the investment in copper local processing plants.

It is also important that capital intensive operations are able to operate, even through tough economic recessions, with the help of professional mining input offered by VBKOM.

Nickel

Nickel is used extensively for making stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys. Botswana and Zambia, the major contributors of nickel in Africa, sell to international markets like Japan, China and India.

The capital intensive nature of the nickel mining industry, the substitution of nickel with other metals, a finite supply of viable nickel reserves, and skills shortages are some of the constraints that Africa's nickel mining industry is facing.

VBKOM provides the necessary skills to assist its clients to plan nickel operations tactically, allowing for maximum benefit for the capital intensive nature of mining the commodity.

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