Chingola

Chingola
Nchanga copper mine near Chingola
Chingola
Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 12°32′S 27°51′E / 12.533°S 27.850°E / -12.533; 27.850
Country Zambia
Province Copperbelt Province
District Chingola District
Elevation 4,472 ft (1,363 m)
Population (2010 Census)[1]
 • Total 185,200
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
Climate Cwa
Website Chingola Municipal Council

Chingola is a city in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, the country's copper-mining region, with a population of 157,340 (2008 census). It is the home of Nchanga Copper Mine, a deep-shaft high-grade content copper mining operation, which subsequently (in the 1960s) led to the development of two open pit operations, Chingola Open Pit and then Nchanga Open Pit (the latter being the second largest open cast mine in the world).

History

Chingola was founded in 1943, somewhat later than most other Copperbelt towns. Chingola was built to service the newly-opened Nchanga copper mine. Alongside Luanshya (the "Garden Town of the Copperbelt"), Chingola is perhaps one of the best laid-out and most picturesque towns in Zambia.

Mines

Situated at the north-west end of the Copperbelt Province, the Nchanga Mines Open Pit workings lie in an arc 11 km long around the west and north of the town, covering nearly 30 km². The deepest part of the pit is 400 m lower than the surrounding plateau.

Communications

A freight-only branch of Zambian Railways services the town from Kitwe. The branch includes the movement of copper ore to the smelters at Nkana in Kitwe.

In 2013, a direct link to the Benguela Railway in Angola was proposed.

In Chingola, the main road to Lubumbashi in DR Congo via Chililabombwe and Konkola branches off the main Copperbelt highway running south-east from Kitwe going north-west to Solwezi.

Chingola is served by Kasompe Airport, IATA code CGJ. Chingola is rated 5th on the most developed cities in Zambia. The most developed areas are Nchanga South & River Side. Chingola is known to be one of the best internet service provided cities in Zambia. It is also served by 2 shopping malls: The Park Mall and the Motherland Shopping Mall.

Public facilities

The town has two hospitals: Nchanga North General Hospital (Government-owned, bed capacity 283) and Nchanga South Hospital (privately owned by the KCM (Konkola Copper Mines Plc), bed capacity about 100).

In the 1960s, Chingola had a large open swimming pool, but that appears to have been filled in. Some hotels (such as the Protea Hotel) have a private pool for the use of guests.

Features of Chingola

National Monuments

Other features

Notable people born in Chingola

Coordinates: 12°32′S 27°51′E / 12.533°S 27.850°E / -12.533; 27.850

References

  1. ↑ Zambia Central Statistical Office. "2010 Census Migration and Urbanization Report". Retrieved 25 May 2018.
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