Major capacity upgrade at Africa’s largest copper mine positions Zambia as a key player in the global clean energy supply chain while creating thousands of jobs and extending mine life to 2044.
First Quantum Minerals recently commissioned a $1.25 billion expansion of its Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia, marking the largest copper investment in the country in nearly a decade and reinforcing Zambia’s position as a key global copper producer. The Kansanshi “S3” project includes a new processing plant with a capacity of 25 million tons per annum, nearly doubling the mine’s ore milling capacity.
The expansion also increases smelter throughput by about 25% and opens a new open pit to extend the mine’s life. Commissioning began ahead of schedule in mid-2025, with the first ore processed through the expanded facilities in July. This expansion is expected to increase annual copper production from 171,000 tonnes in 2024 to around 250,000 tonnes, potentially rising to 280,000 tonnes, extending operations through 2044.
Kansanshi is Africa’s largest copper mine and provides a cornerstone of Zambia’s economy, with copper accounting for over 70% of the country’s export earnings. Together with its nearby Sentinel mine, Kansanshi contributes more than half of Zambia’s total copper output. The government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, aims to more than triple the country’s copper production by the early 2030s, and this investment is pivotal to achieving that goal.
At the official launch in August 2025, President Hichilema praised the expansion as a strong endorsement of Zambia’s economic reforms and governance improvements. He highlighted the creation of over 15,000 jobs through the project, including 7,100 direct employee positions and 7,800 contractor roles, alongside significant opportunities for local businesses and infrastructure development in Solwezi District. Mining Minister Paul Kabuswe emphasized the stable and predictable policy environment that made this transformative investment possible, underlining that the benefits of mining extend beyond tax revenues to social development and community support.
First Quantum CEO Tristan Pascall reiterated the company’s commitment to environmental standards and community development as it embarks on this new phase of its 30-year partnership with Zambia. This expansion follows the 2023 closure of First Quantum’s flagship $10 billion Cobre Panamá mine in Panama, shifting the company’s operational focus to Zambia.
With Cobre Panamá offline, over 90% of First Quantum’s copper output now comes from its Zambian mines. The Kansanshi expansion complements other major mining investments in Zambia, including Barrick Gold’s concurrent $2 billion expansion at its Lumwana copper mine, underscoring Zambia’s strategic importance in the global copper supply chain amid rising demand driven largely by electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
Overall, the Kansanshi S3 project exemplifies a successful public-private partnership, blending strategic investment, technical innovation, and political cooperation to position Zambia at the forefront of Africa’s copper mining industry for decades to come.
