First Quantum asks Zambian attorney general to block charges

First Quantum Minerals has asked Zambia’s attorney general to block criminal proceedings that may be brought against its directors of a State-controlled mining-investment company. The copper producer, based in Vancouver, said it’s been “reliably informed” that  ZCCM Investments Holdings is considering charging its directors, Matt Pascall, operations director at First Quantum, said in a letter to the attorney general, a copy of which was sent to Bloomberg and confirmed by Pascall. That’s resulted in executives at its Kansanshi unit not attending board meetings in Zambia, and has prevented the company from accepting meeting requests from government representatives, he said.