Canada's Barrick Mining's US$2 Billion Zambia Copper Mine Expansion Project Advances as Planned

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 9, Canada's Barrick Mining released the latest construction progress on the Lumwana Super Pit expansion project in Zambia. Construction of the core grinding building for the ore processing system is advancing as planned and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026. Cumulative investment in the project has reached US$795 million, with total investment maintained at US$2 billion. Upon completion of the expansion, the mine's annual copper production capacity is expected to increase from the current 117,000 tonnes to 240,000 tonnes, with first additional copper production planned by the end of the first quarter of 2028.

The expansion project is located in the Lumwana mining area in North-Western Province, Zambia, and primarily involves overall capacity expansion of the existing mining and ore processing systems. The works include expanding the existing ore processing facilities, developing new mining areas, expanding tailings storage capacity, and improving water supply, ore transport and supporting infrastructure at the mine site. The mine development plan involves the existing Chimiwungo and Malundwe open pits, while adding two new open-pit mining areas, Kamisengo and Kababisa.

The ore processing facility expansion is a key component of project construction. The grinding building is responsible for further grinding of crushed ore to provide qualified slurry for subsequent flotation and copper concentrate production. The main structure of the grinding building is nearing completion, with the final phase of wall construction planned to conclude in the fourth quarter. In parallel with the building construction, construction of the third level of the primary crushing station is also nearing completion, and major equipment including mill shells, trunnions, the primary crusher and tailings thickeners has arrived at the project site.

Procurement of the major long-lead equipment required for the project has been completed. The construction team is advancing the installation of building structures, the crushing system and ore conveying facilities, and is carrying out associated civil works for the conveyor corridors and transfer towers. The contract for the expanded tailings storage facility was awarded in the third quarter of 2026, with site construction expected to commence in the fourth quarter. The tailings storage expansion will support the increased ore processing capacity and meet the tailings disposal requirements arising from higher ore throughput.

According to the project plan, the expanded ore processing capacity will reach 52 million tonnes per year, with the mine's annual copper production target of 240,000 tonnes, more than double the approximately 117,000 tonnes before expansion. At the post-expansion production level, the Lumwana mine is expected to have a service life of more than 30 years. The mine will form an integrated production system through new mining areas and expanded processing capacity, gradually increasing ore supply and copper concentrate output.

As of September 30, 2026, cumulative investment in the Lumwana expansion project reached US$795 million, including US$185 million invested in the third quarter of 2026. Barrick expects total project capital expenditure to remain at US$2 billion, with full-year 2026 capital expenditure expected at the low end of the guidance range of US$750 million to US$850 million.

The next phase of the project will focus on completing the remaining structural construction of the grinding building, construction of the primary crushing station, tailings storage expansion and installation of major equipment, while gradually advancing preparations for ore processing system commissioning. Barrick plans to achieve first copper production by the end of the first quarter of 2028. Once the expansion project is commissioned, Lumwana will become one of the company's important copper production bases.