Copper - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Zambian Court Adds State Miner to Lawsuit Over Mopani Copper Sale

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025 Constance

A Zambian court has added the state-owned mining company, ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc, to a lawsuit filed by an opposition lawmaker challenging the recent sale of Mopani Copper Mines. According to a regulatory statement issued Thursday, ZCCM was joined to the case on June 20, 2025. The case centers on a transaction finalized in 2024, which transferred control of Mopani to a new investor. Miles Sampa, a former Deputy Minister of Commerce and current opposition Member of Parliament, argues that the sale constitutes the disposal of a major state asset.… Read More Here

International Copper Corporate News New Mining Projects

Ivanhoe Electric Advances Streamlined Copper Project Toward 2028 Production

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025 Constance

Working in close collaboration with expert industry consultants, our team has developed a highly optimized underground mine plan and a simplified heap-leach processing design. The result is a project with low upfront capital requirements, reduced operating costs per unit, and high copper recovery rates. Located on private land, the project benefits from a more efficient permitting process. Ivanhoe Electric aims to begin copper production by 2028. Financing efforts are already underway, bolstered by a letter of interest from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which could provide up to $825 million in… Read More Here

International Copper

Rising Capital Costs Threaten New Copper Mine Developments

June 26, 2025June 30, 2025 Constance

The rising cost of capital is emerging as a major challenge for the development of new copper mines, driven by resurgent inflation and soaring infrastructure expenses, according to First Quantum Minerals CEO Tristan Pascall. Speaking at the London Indaba conference, Pascall highlighted that the mining industry is now facing some of the highest capital costs among global sectors. “We now face one of the highest capital costs available,” said Pascall. “The reality is we have to turn to financial markets to develop these large-scale projects, and even the biggest mining… Read More Here

International Copper

Communities Rally for Reopening of Cobre Panama Mine Amid Economic Fallout

June 24, 2025June 24, 2025 Constance

Thousands of former workers, local residents, and members of supplier companies marched on Sunday in the town of Penonomé, Panama, urging President José Raúl Mulino to initiate dialogue on the potential reopening of the Cobre Panama copper mine, according to El Capital Financiero. The mine, operated by Minera Panamá—a subsidiary of Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM)—was shut down after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that its operating contract was unconstitutional. The decision halted operations at the country’s only large-scale mining project. The ruling followed mounting legal challenges and… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Energy

Kansanshi Mining Plc Commissions K1.7 Million Solar Power System at Kwambula

June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 Constance

FQM`s Kansanshi Mining Plc has officially commissioned a state-of-the-art 120 kWh solar power system at Kwambula Trades Training Institute, representing a K1.7 million investment. The project ensures a reliable and sustainable energy source for both Kwambula and the Solwezi Trades Training Institute’s administration block, ending their dependency on diesel generators during Zambia’s ongoing power crisis. Speaking on behalf of Kansanshi’s General Manager, Training Manager Charlie Watt emphasised the company’s broader commitment to education in Solwezi. In addition to the solar system, Kansanshi is currently investing over K12 million in infrastructure… Read More Here

International Copper

Signs of Progress Emerge for FQM’s Panama Mine Restart

June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 Constance

First Quantum Minerals is beginning to see promising developments for its shuttered copper mine in Panama, though the country’s president has cautioned that significant hurdles remain before a full restart is possible. The Canadian mining company has started preparing to ship approximately 120,000 metric tons of semi-processed copper that has remained stranded since the mine’s closure in late 2023, according to sources familiar with the situation. In a related move, Franco-Nevada — which holds a supply agreement with the mine — has agreed to suspend its arbitration case against Panama.… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Economy

ZCCM-IH Projects Over 1,000% Surge in EPS Following Mopani Transaction

June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 Constance

Diversified mining investments and operations company ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) expects its earnings per share (EPS) for the year ended December 31, 2024, to rise by approximately 1,077% year-on-year. This substantial increase is primarily attributed to the successful completion of the Mopani Copper Mines strategic equity partner (SEP) transaction, which transformed Mopani into a financially sustainable entity. The deal also enabled the settlement of ZK44.72 billion (US$1.71 billion) in debt owed to Glencore/Carlisa. As part of the transaction, ZCCM-IH recorded a one-time gain of ZK35.92 billion (US$1.41 billion) and… Read More Here

Events & Expos Copper

First Quantum Minerals’ Zambian Country Manager Joins African Mining Week (AMW) 2025

June 20, 2025June 20, 2025 Constance

LUSAKA, Zambia, June 20, 2025/APO Group/ — Godwin Beene, Country Manager for Zambia at mining firm First Quantum Minerals, will speak at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference – Africa’s premier event for the mining sector. During the event, Beene will join a high-level panel discussion titled Zambia: Accelerating Exploration and Development Through License Allocation and Global Partnerships, where he is expected to share insights into the company’s Zambian strategy. Beene’s participation at AMW 2025 comes as Zambia intensifies efforts to attract global investment and scale-up copper production to… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Exploration New Mining Projects

Barrick Mining Sets Sights on DRC Copper as Exploration Begins in Haut Katanga

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 Constance

Barrick Mining, best known for its gold operations through its Kibali subsidiary in Doko, has begun copper exploration efforts in Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signaling a potential expansion into the country’s critical copper sector. For the past two years, Barrick has held exploration permits in the mineral-rich Haut-Katanga province, allowing it to carry out copper prospecting activities. These developments were confirmed by Cyril Mutombo, Barrick’s Country Director, during a press conference held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Karavia Hotel in Lubumbashi, on the sidelines of DRC… Read More Here

International Copper Corporate News

Sinomine Halts Tsumeb Smelter Operations Amid Global Copper Concentrate Shortage

June 15, 2025June 15, 2025 Constance

Sinomine Resource Group announced on Friday that it has temporarily suspended copper smelting operations at its Tsumeb facility in Namibia due to a global shortage of copper concentrate. The shortage comes amid a rapid increase in global smelting capacity, which has outpaced the supply of copper ore. The Tsumeb smelter, one of the few facilities worldwide capable of processing arsenic- and lead-rich copper concentrates, was acquired by Sinomine from Dundee Precious Metals in 2024. With an annual processing capacity of 240,000 metric tons, the plant has previously handled copper concentrate… Read More Here