Konkola Copper Mines Expansion Drives Urgent Demand for New Power Capacity
Konkola Copper Mines Targets 300,000 Tonnes of Copper by 2031 as Expansion Increases Zambia’s Power Demand
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is advancing plans to significantly increase copper production, with the expansion expected to place additional pressure on Zambia’s electricity supply as the company targets 300,000 tonnes of integrated copper production annually by 2031.
The expansion is being supported by CopperTech Metals, the US-domiciled vehicle created by Vedanta Resources for KCM, which has committed $1.5 billion towards the mine’s expansion and modernisation.
KCM is targeting production of about 140,000 tonnes of integrated copper in the 2026 financial year, up from current levels, before increasing output to 300,000 tonnes by 2031. The company has a longer-term ambition of reaching 500,000 tonnes a year.
Konkola Deep at the centre of expansion
A major component of the growth strategy is the Konkola Deep project in Chililabombwe, where underground mining is being developed at considerable depth.
The mine shaft extends to about 1,505 metres underground, while Konkola Deep contains more than 291 million tonnes of ore and is expected to have a mine life of at least 50 years.
Ore grades are reported to reach as high as 3.3% copper, compared with KCM’s average grade of about 2.9%.
The operation currently pumps approximately 450,000 cubic metres of water from underground every day to keep the workings accessible.
This dewatering requirement is expected to increase as mining progresses deeper, adding to the mine’s already significant electricity demand.
KCM has engaged Mancala to undertake underground development works, while the company has also upgraded its high-speed underground rail system.
The mine recently completed its first successful raise boring exercise in 15 years.
Expansion brings major power requirements
As KCM increases production, reliable electricity will become increasingly critical to the operation.
The company has a 100 MW power supply agreement with Kanona Power Company, according to records from Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board.
KCM has also outlined plans for a 300 MW coal-fired power station to be developed in two phases, with an estimated investment of about $317 million.
The broader expansion of Zambia’s mining sector is expected to require substantial new generation capacity. Copperbelt Energy Corporation has estimated that nearly 10 GW of additional generation capacity and approximately $12 billion in energy investment could be required by 2030 to support the country’s planned mining expansion.
The estimate highlights the growing link between Zambia’s copper ambitions and the availability of reliable, competitively priced electricity.
Investment accelerates production ambitions
KCM’s expansion follows significant investment by Vedanta. The company committed $1 billion over five years when it resumed management of KCM in August 2024 and had invested more than $400 million by 2025, including an initial $124 million injection completed ahead of schedule.
In November 2025, Vedanta transferred the asset into CopperTech Metals and announced a further $1.5 billion investment programme, building on approximately $3 billion in historical investment in KCM.
ZCCM Investments Holdings retains a 20.6% stake in Konkola Copper Mines.
ZCCM-IH chairman Phesto Musonda has indicated that proceeds from the CopperTech listing could potentially bring forward the development timeline for Konkola Deep by about three years.
KCM’s expansion comes as Zambia seeks to substantially increase national copper production.
The country produced approximately 890,000 tonnes of copper in 2025 and has set an ambitious target of reaching 3 million tonnes annually.
Achieving that target will require not only investment in mines, processing facilities and infrastructure, but also a significant expansion of Zambia’s power-generation and transmission capacity.
For KCM, electricity is particularly important given the energy-intensive nature of deep-level mining and the large volumes of water that must be continuously pumped from underground.
The success of Konkola’s expansion will therefore depend not only on access to capital and mineral resources, but also on the availability of reliable power capable of supporting higher production over the long term.
