Vedanta Resources' Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has commenced a 60-day shutdown of its Nchanga smelter in Zambia for scheduled maintenance and repairs, the company said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
KCM said that the repairs and maintenance are aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, reliability and long-term production performance.
The company produced 80,215 metric tons of copper in 2025, as reported by Zambia's mines ministry.
The planned shutdown forms part of KCM's broader modernisation strategy, designed to lift its output towards a target of 300,000 tons per year by 2030.
That target aligns with Zambia's national ambition to raise copper output to three million tons annually by 2031, up from 890,346 tons in 2025.
The Nchanga smelter shutdown means three of Zambia's major processing plants – including the Mopani and Chambishi facilities – will undergo extended maintenance between June and mid-September.
This could tighten copper and sulphuric acid production at a time when the Iran war has also disrupted global supplies of sulphuric acid, which is critical in the processing of copper and cobalt.
KCM said it will continue supplying acid to its Nchanga tailings leach plant – which recovers copper from stockpiled waste – from external sources and its own 500-ton-per-day acid plant at Nchanga.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
