Jun 06, 2012 (Dow Jones) -- The Mwembeshi Resources Ltd. copper mine project in central Zambia is expected to start output in 2014, Zambia's state media reports Wednesday citing the project's environmental impact assessment plan.

The state-owned Daily Mail newspaper says that the $490 million project is expected to produce around 8 million metric tons of copper ore per year throughout its 25-year lifespan.

The project will include construction of a copper sulfide concentrator, tailings storage facility, waste rock dump, maintenance workshops and other associated facilities. It will create around 300 jobs and will be the first copper mine in the Lusaka province.

Mwembeshi is a unit of Australia-based Zambezi Resources Ltd. (ZRL.AU). Company officials couldn't be reached for comment.

Zambia is Africa's largest copper miner by output.