ZCCM-IH approves $498 million KCM tailings plant

ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Kakenenwa Muyangwa, said the project would unlock value from one of Africa’s largest secondary copper resources.

“Nchanga’s tailings are one of the largest secondary copper resources in Africa. Using the latest technology, this plant turns them into around 70,000 tonnes of LME Grade A cathode a year without mining a single new tonne of ore,” Muyangwa said.

Studies have established a commercial recovery rate of about 74% using SX-EW technology.

The plant will process approximately 53,500 tonnes of tailings per day, equivalent to about 17.7 million tonnes annually.

Under the EPC agreement, China NERIN will deliver the plant on a turnkey basis, building on its previous design work, and provide support for commissioning, performance testing and training.

Construction is expected to take 24 months, with production projected to reach full capacity of about 70,000 tonnes annually from the fourth year of operation.

ZCCM-IH said the project would increase copper output from KCM’s existing asset base, improve resource recovery and contribute to Zambia’s export earnings.

The development is also expected to support Zambia’s target of producing three million tonnes of copper annually by 2031 and KCM’s ambition of reaching annual production of 300,000 tonnes.

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