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Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has awarded China NERIN Engineering Company Ltd a US$498 million contract to build a 70,000-tonne-per-year tailings leach plant in Chingola, the mining company said on Wednesday.
The plant will recover copper from existing tailings and is expected to support mine’s production growth as Zambia seeks to increase annual copper output to three million tonnes.
KCM Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Satish Kumar, described the project as a major milestone that would unlock additional value from the company’s existing resources and support Zambia’s economic development.
Under the agreement, China NERIN will provide engineering, procurement and construction services, including design, construction and equipment erection, as well as commissioning support, performance testing and training.
“The new facility will use sustainable wet-leaching technology to extract value from tailings, improving resource recovery and extending the operational life of mine’s assets,” Kumar said.
The project will supplement mine’s existing Tailings Leach Plant at Nchanga, Kumar said, adding that it would strengthen the company’s focus on operational efficiency and innovation.
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He said the development formed part of Vedanta Group’s renewed commitment as mine’s strategic investor and its ongoing investment programme of more than $1 billion.
“That programme includes the Konkola Deep Mining Project, seen as the anchor of mine’s long-term growth,” Kumar said.
China NERIN Chairman, Wu Runhua, said the company would use its copper-processing expertise to deliver the project.
Runhua said the project was expected to create jobs during construction and operations and generate business opportunities for local suppliers and contractors on the Copperbelt.
KCM operates integrated mining and processing facilities in Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Nampundwe.
The company, backed by Vedanta’s investment pledge of more than $1 billion, is targeting annual copper production of 300,000 tonnes by 2030.
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