Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)'s Nchanga Smelter Began a 60-Day Production Shutdown for Maintenance
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, announced on Tuesday the official commencement of a planned 60-day maintenance shutdown of the Nchanga smelter in Zambia, with production expected to resume in August 2026. The maintenance aims to enhance equipment reliability and long-term efficiency. During the shutdown, KCM will ensure continued production at the SX-EW Tailings Leach Plant (TLP) through external acid procurement and its own 500 mt/day acid plant. According to SMM, the Nchanga smelter currently has a smelting capacity of approximately 150,000 mt/year and plans to reach 300,000 mt/year by 2030.