en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a subsidiary of Vedanta in Zambia, initiated a 60-day maintenance shutdown at the Nchanga smelter to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and long-term production performance.

According to data from Zambia's Ministry of Mines, KCM produced 80,200 tons of copper in 2025. The company's long-term goal is to increase annual output to 300,000 tons by 2030, aligning with Zambia's national target to raise copper production from 890,300 tons in 2025 to 3 million tons by 2031.

This maintenance shutdown means that Zambia's three major copper smelters will undergo sequential maintenance from June to mid-September, involving the Mopani and Chambishi smelters.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East disrupting global sulfuric acid supply, the concentrated maintenance may further tighten copper and sulfuric acid production. To mitigate the local impact of the shutdown, KCM stated that during the Nchanga maintenance period, it will continue to supply sulfuric acid to the Nchanga tailings leach plant through external procurement and the Nchanga-owned sulfuric acid plant with a daily capacity of 500 tons, ensuring the normal recovery of copper from stockpile waste materials.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com