Chingola Zambia, 2nd June 2026 - Konkola Copper Mines Plc Acting Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Mewett has conducted a Visible Felt Leadership visit to the smelter to assess progress on the ongoing major shutdown that started on 29 May, 2026.

The 60-day shutdown, scheduled to run until 25 July 2026, is the first major smelter shutdown at KCM in five years.

More than 1,000 employees and contractors are involved in the works.

Accompanied by his management team, Mr Mewett toured critical work areas including the Flash Smelting Furnace and the 1,830-tonnes-per-day Acid Plant where major lifting and maintenance activities are underway.

He also engaged key contractors Metso and Intocast on site. Safety dominated the visit.

Mr Mewett emphasized the need for visible leadership and active supervision across all operational areas. He urged supervisors to maintain a strong presence and directed the site’s 25 safety officers to remain highly visible and continuously monitor work activities.

“Risk assessments must be thoroughly reviewed, and where any concern is identified, work must stop until it is safe to proceed,” Mr Mewett said.

Shutdown operations are running on two 12-hour shifts.

The Acting CEO stressed the importance of effective shift handovers to ensure hazards and risks are clearly communicated to incoming teams.

To enhance accountability, KCM’s Safety Department has implemented a tracking system that provides regular updates on activities across the shutdown project.

The visit reaffirmed management’s commitment to safety, operational excellence, and employee engagement throughout the shutdown period.