Chinese Lead Concentrate TCs Set for Rise

Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines, now majority-owned by ZCCM-IH with IRH as partner, is rebuilding output: in June 2026 it processed 289,000 tonnes of ore and produced 5,140 tonnes of cathode against a 5,104-tonne target, running on own feed. The company secured a US$20 million Epiroc equipment order in April 2026. Zambia aims to lift national copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031, and Mopani plans to scale from about 65,000 tonnes currently toward 110,000 and then 180,000 tonnes. Its ramp-up is a key gauge of supply growth across the African Copperbelt.

Spanish-language mining media report that BHP and Amazon have rolled out the first lower-emissions copper pilot at Escondida using Environmental Attribute Certificates, certifying emissions reductions within the mining setting rather than offsetting them elsewhere. Unveiled on 22 September 2026, the pilot leverages Escondida's renewable electricity and desalinated water, with Amazon retiring the certificates to match lower-carbon attributes to its AI infrastructure. Escondida produces about 1.2 million tonnes of copper annually as the world's largest mine, and the label is expected to serve growing demand for low-carbon metal procurement.

HCL's shareholders approved two fundraising mechanisms as the company implements its Vision 2030 expansion programme. The five-year plan targets higher mining capacity through existing mine expansion, new reserves and revival of legacy assets.