First Quantum’s Zambia Copper Mine Set to Beat Target

First Quantum Minerals’ expanded Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia is performing above its designed processing capacity, putting the operation on course for a stronger production outlook.

The company said on Wednesday, October 21, that the mine was expected to process approximately 27 million metric tonnes of ore in 2026. This would be 8% above its design capacity, reflecting improved plant performance and the benefits of its recent expansion.

Kansanshi Mining’s $1.2 billion S3 expansion project was commissioned in August 2025. The project was designed to significantly increase the mine’s processing capacity and support higher copper production.

According to the company, strong equipment availability, utilisation and milling performance have helped the processing plant exceed its throughput target.

The results suggest that the expanded facility is handling ore more efficiently than initially planned, allowing the mine to process larger volumes of material.

$1.2 billion project targets higher copper output

The S3 expansion is a major investment in Kansanshi’s future production capacity.

At the centre of the project is a new sulphide processing line designed to handle 25 million tonnes of ore annually. Its addition has more than doubled the mine’s processing capacity.

The expansion is expected to double Kansanshi’s annual copper output to approximately 277,000 metric tonnes.

The increased capacity has also enabled the mine to process substantial quantities of lower-grade sulphide ore. This is important because processing more material can help a mine extract greater value from its resource base, although the final amount of copper produced also depends on the ore’s grade and recovery performance.

The company’s latest processing figures indicate that the new infrastructure is supporting higher operating volumes.

Zambia becomes First Quantum’s main production base

Zambia has become First Quantum Minerals’ leading copper-producing country, accounting for approximately 93% of the company’s total output in 2025.

The shift followed the suspension of operations at Cobre Panama in 2023, which increased the importance of the company’s Zambian assets to its overall production performance.

Kansanshi is therefore a particularly important operation for First Quantum as it seeks to maintain output and strengthen its position in the global copper market.

The mine’s expansion could also support Zambia’s wider ambitions to increase production, attract mining investment and generate additional economic activity from its mineral resources.

Copper demand supports expansion plans

Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, aims to increase annual output to 3 million tonnes by 2031. The target represents a substantial rise from the 890,346 tonnes produced in 2025.

Achieving that goal will require additional investment, expanded mining capacity and improvements across the country’s copper industry.

Demand for copper is being supported by the global transition to cleaner energy. The metal is widely used in electricity networks, electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure and other technologies needed to expand and modernise power systems.

However, reaching Zambia’s production target will depend on more than processing capacity alone. Mining companies will also need sufficient ore resources, reliable infrastructure, investment and efficient operations.

For First Quantum, Kansanshi’s performance offers an encouraging sign that the expansion is delivering the processing gains intended. If the mine sustains its perfFirst Quantum Minerals’ expanded Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia is performing above its designed processing capacityormance and translates higher throughput into increased copper output, it could play a significant role in both the company’s production outlook and Zambia’s longer-term ambitions.