Zambia has launched the Kitumba Mine Open-Pit Stripping Project in Mumbwa, a $600 million development expected to strengthen the country’s copper output and local economy. The project is designed to process 4.5 million tonnes of copper ore annually, yielding 50,000 tonnes of copper per year. It aligns with Zambia’s broader ambition to produce 3 million tonnes of copper annually by 2031.
More than 2,500 jobs are projected to be created through the project, with a 50 MW solar power plant planned as part of the mine’s infrastructure. The plant will be integrated into the national grid, supporting Zambia’s broader renewable energy goals and efforts to enhance industrial electrification.
The initiative builds on an announcement made in August of the previous year, when President Hakainde Hichilema inaugurated the Sinomine Kitumba project as part of a national push to revitalize copper mining. The project’s development has avoided legal delays, as the government pursued alternative dispute resolution methods.
Sinomine Kitumba has also indicated plans for further geological exploration during construction to potentially expand the mine’s copper resource base. The project’s operational start date has not yet been disclosed.
