70 KTPA Plant to recover copper from existing tailings, support Konkola Copper Mines’ growth and contribute to Zambia’s 3 million tons per annum Copper ambition

Chingola,  Zambia | September 17, 2026: Konkola  Copper  Mines  Plc  has  signed  a US$498 million contract with China NERIN Engineering Co., Ltd. (China NERIN)for the development of Africa’s largest Tailings Leach Plant (TLP), with a capacity to produce 70,000 tons of copper per annum, at its operations in Chingola, Zambia.

The New TLP is an important part of KCM’s growth strategy and its contribution to Zambia’s 3 million tons copper ambition. The project will deploy highly sustainable, advanced wet-leaching technology to recover valuable copper from existing tailings(tailings are by-products of copper mining and processing), enabling KCM to unlock additional value from its existing resource base and infrastructure while improving resource utilization and supporting the long-term productive life of its operations.

Importantly, the new TLP will operate in addition to KCM’s existing TLP at its Nchanga operations, positioning the company as a leader in innovation and efficiency across Zambia’s copper sector.

The project also reflects Vedanta Group’s renewed investment and commitment to KCM, as the company’s strategic investor. KCM operates one of the richest ore bodies in the world, and Vedanta is committed to unlocking & its & full & potential & through sustained investment and modern technology. Vedanta is supporting the transformation and expansion of KCM through investment, technology and operational expertise, with a focus on unlocking the potential of its world-class copper assets and building a globally competitive, technology-enabled mining business.

This latest project complements Vedanta’s ongoing US$1 billion investment in KCM including its flagship Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) —the cornerstone of KCM’s growth strategy and a key contributor to Zambia’s national ambition of producing 3 million tons of copper annually.

Together, these investments position KCM at the forefront of sustainable copper production, ensuring long-term value creation for Zambia and the global market.

Under the contract, China NERIN will provide design, engineering, procurement, construction and erection (EPC) services, together with technical support for commissioning, performance guarantee testing and training. 

The partnership brings together KCM’s significant copper resource base and established operating infrastructure with China NERIN’s expertise in non-ferrous metals engineering, copper processing and project execution, supporting the delivery of a major new processing facility.

Mr. Satish Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, KCM said; 

“Konkola Copper Mines is proud to contribute to Zambia’s national vision of producing 3 million tons of copper annually. With Vedanta’s renewed investment and commitment, and the technical expertise of our partner China NERIN, this project marks a major milestone in our growth journey. By deploying advanced technology to recover copper from tailings, we are unlocking new value, strengthening production, and driving sustainable economic development for Zambia.”

Mr. Wu Runhua, Chairmanand President, China Nerin Engineering Co.Ltd, said;

“We are pleased to partner with Konkola Copper Mines on this important project. With our decades of expertise in copper processing and project execution, China NERIN will support KCM in unlocking additional value from its resources and delivering this modern Tailings Leach Plant successfully.”

The project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities during construction and operations, support local suppliers and contractors, and create wider economic activity in the Copperbelt region. 

The  New TLP forms part of KCM’s broader strategy to increase copper production, improve resource recovery and maximize the value of its integrated mining and processing infrastructure. KCM’s operations span underground and open pit mining, concentrators, tailings processing, smelting and refining, providing an integrated platform across the copper value chain.

Copper is a critical mineral underpinning the global energy transition and digital economy, with applications spanning power grids, Al data centers, advanced electronics renewable  energy infrastructure and electric vehicles. Zambia, one of Africa’s major copper-producing countries, has set an ambition to increase national copper production to 3 million tons per annum, creating a significant opportunity for investments that unlock additional resources and expand production capacity.

KCM is one of the largest copper producers in Zambia owned by Vedanta Resources (79.4%) and ZCCM-IH (20.6%). KCM operates some of the world’s richest copper assets encompassing mining and processing plants located in four districts namely Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Nampundwe.

With an investment pledge of over $1 billion by Vedanta, KCM envisages to unlock key operations such as the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) in Chililabombwe and increase production to 300,000 tons of copper per year by 2030.

Contact: John E.L Kunda 

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer 

Contact -0972013879