By Francis Chipalo
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Plc has successfully cast its first copper anode following a US$40 million rehabilitation of the Nchanga Smelter — the first major refurbishment of this scale in over eight years.
The milestone marks the restart of smelting operations after a 106-day shutdown and underscores Vedanta Resources’ commitment to reviving KCM through sustained investment and technical expertise.
KCM Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Satish Kumar, described the restart as more than a technical achievement.
“This is more than the restart of a smelter. It is visible evidence of Vedanta’s commitment to rebuilding KCM and securing the long-term future of its operations,”Kumar said.
He explained that when Vedanta returned, the smelter required extensive rehabilitation after years without a major overhaul.
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KCM Smelter and Refinery Director, Yoram Kapai, said the programme involved over 1,500 workers including KCM staff and business partners, and was completed without a major injury.
“The successful casting of the first anode is the result of careful planning, technical expertise and the collective effort of everyone involved. Our immediate priority is to stabilise operations and sustain safe, reliable and efficient performance,” Kapai said.
The shutdown was initially scheduled for 60 days but was extended to 106 days after detailed inspections revealed additional critical works.
Major works included the flash smelting furnace and slag-cleaning furnace, waste-heat recovery boiler, electrostatic precipitators, anode casting wheel, heat exchanger at the acid plant, and molecular sieves at the oxygen plant.
The Nchanga Smelter, commissioned in 2010 after an initial US$350 million investment by Vedanta, currently has an annual capacity of 311,000 tonnes. Its restart strengthens KCM’s production-growth strategy and supports Zambia’s national ambition to produce 3 million tonnes of copper annually by 2030.
Meanwhile, Mineworkers Union of Zambia Nchanga Branch Chairman, Ernest Lesa, commended management and the workforce and called for the safety and operational standards established during the shutdown to be maintained.
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