Summary:Copper hydrometallurgical recovery plant rendering in ZambiaKonkola Copper Mines (KCM) has awarded a $498 million contract to China’s NERIN for the construction of a brand-new copper recovery plant in Zambia, marking a landmark metallurgical investment in the country’s copper belt. The coppe...
Copper hydrometallurgical recovery plant rendering in Zambia
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has awarded a $498 million contract to China’s NERIN for the construction of a brand-new copper recovery plant in Zambia, marking a landmark metallurgical investment in the country’s copper belt. The copper recovery plant project is designed to unlock value from low-grade copper materials and improve overall metal recovery efficiency, supporting KCM’s long-term production expansion strategy in one of Africa’s most important copper producing regions.
The contract covers full scope of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the copper recovery plant. NERIN, a well-known Chinese metallurgical engineering firm, will be responsible for process design, equipment supply, site construction, commissioning and operational handover. Once completed, the plant will adopt advanced hydrometallurgy technology to recover copper from stockpiled tailings and low-grade ores, maximising resource utilisation and extending the mine life of KCM’s existing assets.
Zambia remains a cornerstone of African copper production, yet many legacy mining operations face challenges with low metal recovery rates and underutilised mineral resources. This new copper recovery plant addresses those pain points. The project will not only lift KCM’s annual copper cathode output, but also create local jobs, develop domestic mining infrastructure and reinforce Zambia’s position in the global copper supply chain.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Owner | Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) |
| EPC Contractor | NERIN (China NERIN Engineering Co., Ltd.) |
| Total Contract Value | $498 million |
| Project Type | Copper recovery plant, hydrometallurgy |
| Core Target | Recover copper from low-grade ore & tailings, improve metal recovery rate |
| Location | Zambian Copperbelt |
Industry analysts point out that the deal demonstrates growing collaboration between African copper miners and Chinese metallurgical engineering enterprises. NERIN has rich experience in global non-ferrous metal processing projects, and its technical expertise will be critical to meeting the performance targets of this copper recovery plant. For KCM, the investment is a cost-effective way to increase copper production without large-scale new open pit or underground mine development.
The project also carries broader implications for global critical metal supply. As worldwide demand for copper keeps rising for power grids and clean energy infrastructure, unlocking secondary copper resources via recovery plants has become a favoured strategy for many copper miners. Tailings and low-grade ore recovery helps reduce waste and improves the sustainability profile of copper mining operations.
Construction mobilisation is scheduled to kick off following contract formalisation, with phased commissioning planned in the coming years. Stakeholders will closely monitor construction progress, metallurgical test results and final metal recovery performance. Upon full operation, this KCM project will serve as a reference case for similar copper recovery upgrades across the African Copperbelt.
The $498 million contract between KCM and NERIN represents a major milestone for copper processing development in Zambia. The new copper recovery plant will leverage proven hydrometallurgical technology to extract copper from previously underutilised mineral resources, boosting output and improving the economic sustainability of KCM’s operations. Cross-border EPC cooperation between African mining operators and Chinese engineering firms will continue to shape the future of copper production across Africa.
