Katanga Copper

The meeting of the Tanganyika Concessions Co. in London, recently, produced considerable valuable information about the future of the Katanga Copper Co. of Africa.

The Katanga copper belt extends east and west for about 250 miles. Hitherto only the easiest veins in this extensive ore body have been mined. Last year, 85,000 tons of copper were produced. But the Company expects to see an output of 160,000 tons by 1928, and ultimately an annual production of between 300,000 and 400,000 tons. To a large extent, the Company's executives believe that the production from Katanga will be cheaper in cost than any other mines in the world, and consequently able to sell on a profitable basis at all times.

The chief drawbacks to the rapid development of the Katanga properties consist in transportation and labor. A labor shortage in Central Africa is slowing up the completion of the Benguella R. R., the future outlet for the mines to the seacoast.