ZCCM-IH Backs Major $498 Million Tailings Project to Unlock More Copper at KCM
Konkola Copper Mines Greenlights $498 Million Copper Recovery Plant at Nchanga
ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has approved the construction of a $498 million tailings leach plant at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), marking a major step in Zambia’s efforts to expand copper production and maximize value from existing mining assets.
ZCCM-IH, which holds a 20.6% stake in KCM, said the project will transform historic mine waste into a significant new source of copper production.
The new facility will reprocess material from the Tailings Dam 5 (TD5) at Nchanga, one of the largest accumulated copper tailings resources in Africa.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce approximately 70,000 tonnes of copper cathode per year, providing a substantial boost to KCM’s output without the need for new mining activities.
Following shareholder approval, KCM has signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with China NERIN Engineering Company, which will deliver the project on a turnkey basis.
The contractor will oversee construction, commissioning, performance testing and workforce training as part of the development process.
According to project studies, the TD5 tailings facility contains an estimated 546 million tonnes of material grading 0.54% copper.
The plant will utilize solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology, which has demonstrated a commercial recovery rate of approximately 74%, producing high-quality London Metal Exchange Grade A copper cathodes.
The facility is designed to process around 53,500 tonnes of tailings per day, equivalent to roughly 17.7 million tonnes annually.
Construction is expected to take about two years, with production gradually increasing until the plant reaches full capacity from the fourth year of operation.
Supporting Zambia’s Copper Growth Ambitions
The project forms part of a broader strategy to increase copper production using existing resources while improving environmental management through the reprocessing of historical waste deposits.
By extracting additional copper from material that has already been mined, KCM can increase output, improve resource efficiency and generate new economic value from legacy assets.
The additional production is expected to contribute to Zambia’s goal of reaching three million tonnes of annual copper production by 2031, while supporting KCM’s own ambition to scale output to 300,000 tonnes per year. Increased copper exports could also strengthen foreign exchange earnings and reinforce Zambia’s position as one of Africa’s leading copper-producing nations.
ZCCM-IH described the investment as an example of sustainable growth, highlighting how modern technology can unlock value from existing resources while avoiding the costs and environmental footprint associated with developing new mines.
Outlook
The approval of the Nchanga tailings leach plant represents one of the most significant copper recovery projects currently under development in Zambia.
If delivered on schedule, the facility will add meaningful production capacity, improve resource recovery and support the long-term expansion plans of both KCM and the Zambian mining industry.
