MMG Approves Major Khoemacau Copper Mine Expansion in Botswana
MMG Greenlights $900 Million Khoemacau Copper Expansion to Boost Production and Cut Costs
MMG Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the feasibility study and committed to the construction of a major expansion at the Khoemacau Copper Mine in Botswana.
The project is designed to increase the mine’s annual production capacity to 130,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, with associated silver output expected to exceed 4 million ounces.
The expansion involves extending mining operations to the Zone 5 North, Mango, and Zeta North-East deposits, as well as constructing a new processing plant with a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes per annum. This will increase the mine’s total milling capacity to over 8.0 million tonnes per annum.
Total capital expenditure for the expansion is estimated at approximately US$900 million, including pre-2026 spending. First copper concentrate from the expanded operations is anticipated in the first half of 2028.
The project is expected to significantly improve operational efficiency. The life-of-mine average C1 cost is projected to fall below US$1.60 per pound, down from the actual C1 cost of US$2.05 per pound recorded in the six months ended 30 June 2025.
This strategic expansion is aimed at enhancing the long-term profitability and scale of MMG’s copper portfolio. Looking ahead, Khoemacau has identified further expansion potential of up to 200,000 tonnes of copper per annum, supported by ongoing exploration activities. A pre-feasibility study for this next phase is scheduled to begin in 2026.
