Zambia allows Australia firm to mine copper in game park

LUSAKA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Zambia's government has overturned an earlier decision by the environmental agency barring Australia's Zambezi Resources from developing a $494 million open cast copper mine in a game park, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The agency, which has to approve all huge infrastructure projects, had in 2012 rejected the proposed mining project in Africa's leading copper producer, citing environmental concerns.

Zambezi Resources subsequently appealed against the move, and environmental protection minister Harry Kalaba found the agency's decision lacked merit, the privately owned Post newspaper wrote.

"The project should go ahead because it will eventually create employment for ordinary people in the area," the paper quoted Kalaba as saying.

"There are currently available cost-effective technologies and methods to adequately address all the identified negative impacts," he added. Kalaba was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa)

((chris.mfula@thomsonreuters.com))

Keywords: ZAMBIA MINE/