KCM Restarts Chingola “B” Mine After 18-Year Shutdown in Major Zambia Copper Expansion Push
Konkola Copper Mines Restarts Chingola B Mine After 18 Years as Zambia Targets 3 Million Ton Copper Output by 2031
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has resumed mining operations at its Chingola “B” Mine, marking the restart of activity after 18 years of closure.
The move forms part of Zambia’s broader strategy to significantly scale up copper production as the country targets more than 3 million tonnes of annual output by 2031.
The Chingola B Mine is located within the larger Nchanga mining complex and is expected to play a key role in boosting feed to KCM’s processing operations.
According to KCM chief executive Deshnee Naidoo, the mine is projected to produce more than 200,000 tonnes of ore per month once operations stabilise.
This compares with historical output levels between 1980 and 2003, when the mine produced approximately 60,000 tonnes of ore per month at an average grade of 2.5%, before operations were eventually halted.
KCM operates mining and processing assets across Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe, and Nampundwe.
The company is majority owned by Vedanta Resources with a 79.4% stake, while the remaining 20.6% is held by Zambia’s state investment arm, ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc.
The restart of Chingola B comes at a time when Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, is seeking to expand output aggressively.
National copper production stood at 890,346 tonnes last year, falling short of the country’s near-term target of 1 million tonnes.
Authorities and industry players see mine restarts and brownfield expansions such as Chingola B as critical to closing the production gap, alongside new investments in exploration, processing capacity, and infrastructure to support higher output levels.
The recommencement of operations at Chingola B is therefore viewed as a strategic milestone in restoring capacity within the Nchanga complex and strengthening Zambia’s position in the global copper market.
