LUSAKA — Zambia’s Luanshya Copper Mine is moving closer to renewed production as the country seeks to increase copper output and revive long-idle mining operations.
The upper section of the mine is expected to resume production following an extensive dewatering programme that cleared underground areas affected by flooding and allowed rehabilitation work to proceed.
Luanshya Copper Mines is majority owned by China Nonferrous Mining Corporation, with Zambia’s state investment company, ZCCM Investments Holdings, retaining a minority stake.
The revival forms part of wider investment in the Luanshya operation, including the redevelopment of Shaft 28. The project, valued at about US$710 million, includes new underground infrastructure, a concentrator plant and supporting facilities.
Production from the lower section of the mine is expected from 2029, while the expanded Luanshya operation is projected to produce around 100,000 tonnes of copper annually by 2030.
The investment is also expected to support employment and strengthen economic activity in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
Zambia is seeking to significantly increase national copper production as global demand for the metal rises, particularly from industries linked to renewable energy, electric vehicles and other technologies.
The Luanshya redevelopment adds to a growing portfolio of Chinese investment in Zambia’s mining sector and highlights the continued role of China-Africa cooperation in the continent’s mineral development.