Konkola Copper Mines has taken its Nchanga smelter offline for planned maintenance, with the shutdown forming part of a wider cycle of outages across Zambia’s copper-processing sector.
Aluminium Bahrain [Alba] has agreed to acquire Aluminium Dunkerque, the largest primary aluminium smelter in the EU, in a deal valued at $2.2 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
Konkola Copper Mines has taken its Nchanga smelter offline for planned maintenance, with the shutdown forming part of a wider cycle of outages across Zambia’s copper-processing sector.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has taken its Nchanga smelter in Zambia offline for a planned 60-day maintenance programme aimed at improving operational efficiency, reliability and long-term production performance, the company said on June 2. The work is part of KCM's wider rebuilding and modernization efforts, with the smelter expected to restart in August 2026.
During the shutdown, KCM will carry out refurbishment and repair work with support from original equipment manufacturers, technical partners, contractors and suppliers. The company said it would continue feeding its Tailings Leach Plant using a combination of externally sourced acid and production from its 500-tonne-per-day acid plant at Nchanga Operations to sustain copper output. KCM added that more than 1,449 workers have been engaged in the rehabilitation programme, including 578 newly created positions.
In a Q&A update released on June 3, KCM said the shutdown was planned maintenance and not the result of an emergency or unforeseen operational failure.
The Nchanga shutdown forms part of a wider maintenance cycle across Zambia’s copper-processing sector, with the Mopani and Chambishi plants also expected to undergo outages this year, potentially pressuring copper production and sulphuric acid supply.
KCM, a Vedanta Resources subsidiary and one of Zambia's largest copper producers, is targeting annual copper production of 300,000 tonnes by 2030 as part of an investment programme exceeding $1.2 billion.
Aluminium Bahrain [Alba] has agreed to acquire Aluminium Dunkerque, the largest primary aluminium smelter in the EU, in a deal valued at $2.2 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
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