Zambia: KCM restarts its smelter after 106 days of shutdown

Konkola Copper Mines has restarted its Nchanga smelter in Zambia after a 106-day shutdown, with the casting of the first copper anode announced on September 17, 2026. The facility is returning to production following a rehabilitation program that took longer than expected.

KCM reports that it has invested $40 million in upgrading the smelter. The shutdown was initially scheduled for 60 days but was extended to complete additional reconstruction and maintenance work on critical equipment.

According to the company, the smelter currently has a capacity of 300,000 tonnes. KCM’s Deputy General Manager, Satish Kumar, has urged teams to maintain strict operational and maintenance discipline to preserve the refurbished equipment and ensure the reliability of the facility.

The work began in late May. When announcing the shutdown, KCM explained that the upgrades were intended to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and long-term production performance. More than 1,000 employees and contractors were mobilized for the maintenance program.

The restart comes at a time when processing capacities have impacted Zambian production. In June, the government extended the suspension of a 10% tax on copper concentrate exports until September 30 to allow producers to sell off stockpiles accumulated during the prolonged shutdowns of several smelters.

KCM produced 80,215 tonnes of copper in 2025, according to data from the Zambian Ministry of Mines cited by Reuters, and aims to reach 300,000 tonnes per year by 2030. Zambia aims to increase its national production from 890,346 tonnes in 2025 to 3 million tonnes by 2031.