Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is advancing an ambitious expansion programme aimed at significantly increasing copper production, with the company targeting 300,000 tonnes of integrated copper output annually by 2031. The growth is expected to place additional pressure on Zambia’s electricity infrastructure as the mine expands operations and develops deeper underground resources.
The expansion is being supported by CopperTech Metals, the US-domiciled vehicle established by Vedanta Resources for KCM, which has committed $1.5 billion to the mine’s expansion and modernisation.
KCM is targeting approximately 140,000 tonnes of integrated copper production in the 2026 financial year, before increasing output to 300,000 tonnes by 2031. In the longer term, the company aims to reach annual production of 500,000 tonnes.
A central component of this growth strategy is the Konkola Deep project in Chililabombwe, where underground mining is being developed at considerable depth. The mine shaft extends approximately 1,505 metres underground, while the Konkola Deep orebody contains more than 291 million tonnes of ore and is expected to support a mine life of at least 50 years.
The orebody also offers relatively high grades, with copper grades reported to reach as much as 3.3%, compared with KCM’s average grade of approximately 2.9%.
One of the most significant operational challenges associated with the deep-level development is water management. KCM currently pumps approximately 450,000 cubic metres of water from underground each day to keep the workings accessible. As mining advances to greater depths, this dewatering requirement is expected to increase, further raising the operation’s already substantial electricity demand.
KCM has appointed Mancala to undertake underground development works and has upgraded its high-speed underground rail system as part of the broader development programme. The mine has also recently completed its first successful raise-boring exercise in 15 years, marking further progress in the development of its underground infrastructure.
Reliable electricity will be increasingly critical as KCM moves towards higher production levels. The company currently has a 100 MW power supply agreement with Kanona Power Company, according to records from Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board.
KCM has also outlined plans for a 300 MW coal-fired power station to be developed in two phases, representing an estimated investment of approximately $317 million. The proposed generation capacity reflects the scale of the energy requirements associated with the mine’s expansion and deeper underground operations.
KCM’s power requirements form part of a much broader challenge facing Zambia’s mining sector. Copperbelt Energy Corporation has estimated that nearly 10 GW of additional generation capacity and around $12 billion in energy investment could be required by 2030 to support the country’s planned mining expansion.
The estimate highlights the increasingly important relationship between Zambia’s copper ambitions and the availability of reliable and competitively priced electricity. As mining companies expand production, greater pressure will be placed on both generation capacity and transmission infrastructure.
KCM’s expansion follows substantial investment by Vedanta. When the company resumed management of KCM in August 2024, it committed $1 billion over five years and had invested more than $400 million by 2025, including an initial $124 million injection completed ahead of schedule.
In November 2025, Vedanta transferred the asset into CopperTech Metals and announced a further $1.5 billion investment programme, building on approximately $3 billion in historical investment in KCM. ZCCM Investments Holdings retains a 20.6% stake in Konkola Copper Mines.
ZCCM-IH chairman Phesto Musonda has indicated that proceeds from the proposed CopperTech listing could potentially accelerate the development timeline for Konkola Deep by around three years, further supporting KCM’s production ambitions.
The expansion comes as Zambia seeks to substantially increase national copper output. The country produced approximately 890,000 tonnes of copper in 2025 and has set an ambitious target of reaching 3 million tonnes annually.
Achieving this target will require significant investment not only in mining operations and processing capacity, but also in supporting infrastructure, particularly electricity generation and transmission.
For KCM, the importance of reliable power is especially pronounced given the energy-intensive nature of deep-level mining and the large volumes of water that must be continuously pumped from underground. As the Konkola Deep project advances and production increases, power availability will remain a critical factor in determining the pace and sustainability of the expansion.
The success of KCM’s growth strategy will therefore depend on more than access to capital and mineral resources. It will also rely on Zambia’s ability to provide the reliable, competitively priced electricity and infrastructure required to support higher copper production over the long term.
