Focusing on Ex-China Copper and Cobalt Smelting, SMM Visited Luaraba Copper Smelter Co., Ltd.

On April 21, a delegation from SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), comprising Ye Jianhua, Director and Supervisor of SMM's Industry Research Department, Feng Chundi, Expert of SMM's Industry Research Institute, and Wu Tao, SMM's Overseas Marketing Manager for Copper and Tin, visited Lualaba Copper Smelter S.A. (LCS) for a field trip and exchange. The delegation received a warm and thoughtful reception from the leadership of LCS.

During the exchange, relevant heads of LCS provided a detailed introduction to the project's construction history, smelting process routes, current capacity operations, and overall business planning. SMM, drawing on global non-ferrous market trends, shared insights on copper-cobalt raw material supply and demand, the smelting and processing landscape, price fluctuation trends, and industry policy developments.

Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on practical topics including production management and control in ex-China pyrometallurgy operations, raw material supply assurance, environmental protection operations and maintenance, cost management, and industry outlook assessment. They also exchanged experiences and ideas on the operational management, risk prevention, and medium and long-term development planning of smelters outside China. This field trip and exchange was pragmatic and efficient, effectively enhancing mutual understanding and laying a solid foundation for ongoing industry information sharing and long-term exchange and cooperation.

Introduction to Lualaba Copper Smelter S.A. (LCS)

Lualaba Copper Smelter S.A. (LCS) is a modern non-ferrous metal smelting enterprise jointly invested and constructed by China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. and Chalco Yunnan Copper Group, located in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, DRC. Construction commenced in March 2018, and Phase I was completed and successfully put into operation in October 2019. It is the first large-scale pyrometallurgical copper-cobalt smelter in the DRC and serves as a key strategic pillar for China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group's resource development and industrial deployment in Africa.

With copper concentrates smelting as its core business, LCS's main products include blister copper, sulphuric acid, and liquid sulfur dioxide, with an annual capacity of 150,000 mt of blister copper and 300,000 mt of sulphuric acid. As an important participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, LCS has consistently upheld the development philosophy of "serving the nation through resources and pursuing win-win cooperation," actively fulfilling its social responsibilities, promoting local employment and industrial development, and striving to build an internationally competitive copper smelter while continuously enhancing the influence of Chinese mining enterprises in the global non-ferrous metals industry.

The conference is scheduled to be held on October 13–14, 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia. Your participation is welcome~

Contact Person:

Wu Tao: 18270916376

jennywu@smm.cn