Zambia has a large mining industry, especially in the Copperbelt region.

Mopani copper and cobalt mines

Year openedCurrent owner(s)Facility typeConstruction / acquisition costProduct(s)FacilityCapacityLocation(s)Status1932Delta Mining Limited, a subsidiary of International Resource Holdings (IRH) 51%ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) 49%Ore mine to smelterZMW 25.5bn (US$1.1 bn)* US$1.5 bn**Copper metalCobalt metalNkana Mine 5,500,000 tons of copper ore. Kitwe, Copperbelt (HQ)Mufulira, CopperbeltActiveMufulira Mine2,500,000 tons of copper oreMufulira (ISASMELT) smelter200,000 tons of copper anodeMufulira refinery275,000 tons of copper cathodeNkana solvent extraction plant15,000 tons of copper cathodeNkana cobalt plant7,000 tons of cobalt metal *In February 2024, Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) approved the acquisition of a 51 percent stake worth 25.5 bn kwacha (US$1.1 bn)in Mopani Copper Mines Plc by Delta Mining Limited a subsidiary of International Resource Holdings (IRH) that is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

**In January 2021. the Zambian government, through the ZZCM-IH, took on US$1.5 billion in debt to and acquired the 90% shares of Mopani Copper Mines Plc from Carlisa Investments Corporation and became the sole owner of Mopani Copper Mines Plc.

Prior to January 2021, Mopani Copper Mines Plc (Mopani) was a joint venture company based in Kitwe as 95% of its operations are located there, comprising Glencore International AG (73.1%), First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (16.9%) and Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (10%). Mopani operates the Mufulira mine, smelter, concentrator and copper refinery and the Nkana mine, concentrator and cobalt plant. MCM produced 134,800 tons of copper and 2040 tons of cobalt in 2003. MCM is investing in a number of oxide copper projects at several of its properties, including an in-situ leaching project at Mufulira and heap leaching at Nkana, and has achieved significant production increases at its underground mining operations in Kitwe and Mufulira. Copper production from internal sources was supplemented by the purchase of some 18,000 tons of copper in high-grade oxide concentrate bought from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company aims to rebuild the Mufulira smelter during 2004 and 2005, and also plans to add a new gas collection facility and acid plant at a total cost of US$95 million.

In July 2022 ZCCM-Investment Holdings agreed to offer corporate guarantees of up to US$15.0 million to Atlas Mara Bank Zambia Limited to provide working capital to Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) to inject liquidity for its operations.

In October 2022 Sibanye-Stillwater expressed an interest to acquire Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines, the mine and smelter complex looking for new investors after Glencore sold the asset to the state in January 2021. Zambia's state mining firm ZCCM-IH hired Rothschild in June 2022 to help find a new investor to upgrade and expand it.

Mufulira mine The largest underground mine in Africa, the Mufulira Mine employs 10,000 people; includes a concentrator, a refinery and a smelter; and produces 300,000 tons of copper each year through the process of open stoping. The copper is then taken to the concentrator.

Mufulira concentrator The concentrator crushes ores coming from the Mufulira mine consisting of 46% copper, waters it, and then does the process of flotation so the waste material can be removed.

Mufulira smelter Built in 1927, the smelter melts the copper mixed with limestone in the Isasmelt furnace. The copper is pressurised by the air, then oxidised, and finally poled. The copper is then taken to the refinery. Mopani completed the third and final phase of upgrading its Mufulira Smelter in the first quarter of 2014.

Mufulira refinery The copper is cast into anodes so the process of electrolysis can take place during refining.

Nkana mine

Nkana mine is one of the largest in Africa, a copper mine located 1 km south-west of Kitwe. The mine is underground as well as open pit and is in operation since 1932 and has produced 6,000,000 tons of copper so far. Its reserves underground include 69,000,000 tons of grading, 16,000,000 tons of copper, and 98,000 tons of cobalt. Its resources include 126,000,000 tons of grading, 43,000,000 tons of copper, and 300,000 tons of cobalt. Copper and cobalt mineralisation occur within the ore shale. Copper mineralisation in the deposits changes from mostly chalcopyrite in the South Orebody, to chalcopyrite-bornite in the Central area and to bornite-chalcopyrite at Mindola. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferous pyrite in approximately equal proportions. The mine produces copper and cobalt from three sources: Mindola Shaft, Central Shaft and South Orebody Shaft. Vertical crater retreat is the predominant mining method while sublevel open-stopping and sublevel caving methods are also used. Other metallurgical facilities, under a management contract by an affiliate of the Anglo American Group, include the Nkana smelter (not owned by Mopani), acid plant (not owned by Mopani) and copper refinery (not owned by Mopani). There is extensive mine tailings around this mine.

Nkana concentrator Nkana concentrator of Mopani mines, located in Kitwe, treats copper-cobalt sulphide ore using a bulk flotation and segregation flotation flowsheet to produce separate copper and cobalt concentrates. Nkana Concentrator is the most important mineral processing unit of Mopani, as it contributes about 65% of cobalt concentrates treated at the Nkana and Chambeshi Cobalt plants to produce high purity cobalt metal.

Nkana and chambeshi cobalt plants The cobalt plant treats 65% of the cobalt concentrates to produce high purity cobalt metal. The two cobalt plants are Nkana cobalt plant and Chambeshi cobalt plant. Glencore has also used acid leaching, a method used to extract ore, in order to effectively extract and produce copper and cobalt.

In May 2022 Mopani Copper Mines announced its intention to restart processing cobalt on account of the rising prices of the metal which it halted more than a decade ago after international prices collapsed.

Mufulira copper and cobalt processing plant In May 2022, Blue Star Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of Blue Star Capital, of the United Arab Emirates in a joint venture with Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) announced plans to invest US$300.0 million into a new Copper and Cobalt processing facility to be located in Mufulira District. The intention is to develop the two historical copper slag dumpsites in the district.

The project is expected to create 300 new permanent jobs and incorporates plans to invest US$2.5 million into each of the three constituencies in the district as part of the JV's Corporate Social Responsibility Program CSRP.

Konkola copper and cobalt mines

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is the largest copper mining company in the country. Although based in Chingola, 15% of its operations—namely Nkana Refinery, Nkana Acid Plants and Nkana Smelter (the largest smelter in the nation) -- are located in Kitwe. The Nkana Smelter is the largest primary copper production plant in Zambia. The plant treats concentrates mainly from Nkana, Nchanga, and Konkola mines, which are wholly owned by KCM to produce up to 150,000 tons of new copper. Year openedCurrent owner(s)Facility typeConstruction /acquisition costProduct(s)FacilityCapacityLocation(s)Status1957Vedanta Resources PlcOre Mine tosmelterUS$25 million*Copper anodesLME A grade copper cathodesChingola open pit A and Nchanga open pit 4,500,000 tons of copper oreKonkola Mine, Chililabombwe, copperbeltNchanga Copper mine, Chingola, copperbeltNkana Refinery, Kitwe, copperbeltActiveNchanga underground mine2,800,000 tons of copper oreKonkola Mine (KDMP)2,400,000 tons of copper oreNchanga tailings leach plant80,000 tons of copper cathodeNchanga copper smelter311,000 tons of copper anode (blister copper)3,000 tons of copper-cobalt alloyNkana Copper Electrowinning Refinery300,000 tons of copper cathode *2004 Acquisition Cost

Nkana smelter The smelter produces high grade anodes, which are electrolytically refined. Sulphur dioxide gas produced by the converters is converted into sulphuric acid which is then used at the Tailings Leach Plant in Nchanga for recovering oxide copper. The smelter also produces discard slag from the reverbs that is rich in cobalt which is stored for future reclamation. This smelter was part of the Konkola Copper Mine's operation at privatisation and has subsequently closed.

Nkana refinery The Nkana Copper Refinery produces electrolytically refined copper in the form of cathodes. The copper meets the LME premium quality grade. The tankhouse has a capacity of about 180,000 tons of finished copper per annum. It has been expanded to accommodate the increased anode production from the Nchanga smelter.

Nkana acid plants There are two single contact sulphuric acid plants at Smelterco, namely the No. 3 and No. 4 plants. No. 3, the largest, is still operational. The plant has a design capacity of 1,050 tons of acid per day.

Konkola deep mine and concentrator A new concentrator was commissioned at Konkola in 2008.

Nchanga open pit mine and concentrators There are two Concentrators. An East and West Mill.

Nchanga tailings leach plant The Nchanga Tailings Leach Plant (TLP), one of the largest of its kind in the world, processes tailings from the Nchanga concentrators and stockpiled tailings to produce copper. The TLP extracts copper directly to cathodes from concentrate solution using electrolysis.

Nchanga smelter The Nchanga smelter was commissioned in 2008, incorporating technology from Outotec, Finland. The smelter processes ore from Konkola, Nchanga and other third party concentrates and it has a capacity of 311,000t pa.

Rokana mine Rokana Mine is a mining company that owns Mindola Underground Mine, which mines minerals such as carrollite, chalcopyrite and libethenite. Other minerals mined are bornite, pyrite, chalcocite.

There is extensive mine tailings around this mine. See Copperbelt Province for the history of the copper-mining industry in this region.

Other mining There are two small tailings dams right in the city centre. There are also small-scale emerald mines in the area.

Kagem emerald mine

Kagem Emerald Mine, located in Lufwanyama, 45 km southwest of Kitwe, Copperbelt Province.

Kagem Emerald Mine Parent Company Gemfields generated US$330.3 million (ZMW 5.7 billion(i)) Revenue from 1 July 2021 through 30 June 2022 from its 75%-owned Kagem emerald mine, in Zambia; its 75%-owned Montepuez ruby mine, in Mozambique; and Gemfields’ wholly owned iconic luxury brand Fabergé.

In August 2022, Kagem Mining Limited projected growth in emerald production from the current levels of 37.993 kg to 50.758 kg in the next five years.

In 2023 Kagem Emerald Mine generated 1.82 billion kwacha (US$89.9 million) in annual revenue.

Kariba minerals ltd One of the oldest semi-precious gemstone mines in Zambia, located in Mapatizya, Sinazongwe, Southern Province.

Mine is 100% owned by ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).

Main product is Amethyst.

Annual production up to 800 tonnes per annum.

Grizzly Emerald Mine Grizzly Mining Limited was incorporated as mining company in 1997.

Grizzly Mining Limited is engaged in the production, processing, grading, marketing and supply of emeralds and beryl.

The company produces gemstones from its mine in Lufwanyama, Kitwe, Copperbelt Province.

The mine produces 60,000,000 carats of emeralds per year.

In October 2019, Grizzly Mining Company, Zambia’s second largest emerald mine unearthed a historic 50-kilogramme multi-million-dollar emerald crystal.

In August 2023, the Grizzly Emerald Limited generated record sales of 984.25 million kwacha (U$48.63-million).

In March 2024, Grizzly Emerald Limited generated 494.6 million kwacha (US$19-million) worth of sales.

Chibuluma copper mine