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Zambia

Mopani Operation

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Mopani Operation

Location: 1 km SW from Kitwe, Zambia

Address:

Central Street, 5th Avenue, Nkana West
PO Box 22000
Kitwe
Zambia

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Cobalt
Mining Method
  • Longitudinal Room-and-Pillar
  • Sub-level caving
  • Longitudinal stoping
  • Vertical Crater Retreat
  • Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
  • Sub-level Retreat
Backfill type ... Lock
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotMopani Copper Mines are the Mufulira mine site (in Mufulira) and the Nkana mine site (in Kitwe).

The Mufulira site has an underground mine operation, a concentrator, a smelter, an acid plant and a copper refinery while the Nkana site has four underground mines, a concentrator, a new state-of-the-art concentrator and other associated operations.

According to the Mopani 2024-2033 Strategic Plan, Mopani’s management plan to raise US$350M to complete the development and installation of Synclinorium, Mindola and Mufulira deep shaft projects and associated infrastructure by 2027. This will increase production efficiencies and allow for access to deeper new ore reserves that have the potential to extend the mine life for up to 25-30 years. These projects are currently on care and maintenance and their completion will be key to ensuring Mopani ramp up future production. Mopani will also fine tune the newly commissioned Synclinorium concentrator.
Related AssetsMufulira Mine, Nkana Mine

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc. 49 % Indirect
International Resources Holding RSC Ltd. 51 % Indirect
Mopani Copper Mines plc. (operator) 100 % Direct
Mopani Copper Mines Plc is a multi-faceted mining investment with operations in Kitwe (Nkana mine) and Mufulira (Mufulira mine) districts of the Copperbelt Province.

On March 20, 2024, International Resources Holding RSC Ltd, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Mining Limited, acquired a 51% interest in Mopani Copper Mines plc and formation of a strategic partnership with ZCCMIH. ZCCM-IH will retain 49% shares in Mopani Copper Mines plc.

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Sediment-hosted

Summary:

Nkana
The predominant mega-structure of the mining area is the northwest-plunging Nkana syncline. This structure is asymmetric, with a curved axial plane inclined steeply to the northwest in the trough of the syncline but upright to westward dipping at higher structural levels. A complex occupies the axial zone of the syncline but this folding dies out on its flanks. As a result of the north-westerly plunge of the Nkana syncline, the present land surface represents a horizontal section through progressively higher structural levels of the syncline from southeast to northwest.

The mines are situated on the north-eastern limb of the Nkana Syncline area. Other cupriferous zones are present in the nose and southwest limb of the syncline. The orebodies are stratiform and are mainly confined to a recognisable ore formation, which occurs near the base of the Katangan sequence within the Lower Roan Group of the Mine Series. In the underground workings, the principal copper ore minerals are chalcopyrite and bornite with subordinate chalcocite. There is a zoning in the geographical distribution of these minerals. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferious pyrite. The principal ore minerals are malachite, pseudomalchite, chrysocolla, native copper, cuprite and libethenite. In the open pit, malachite and chrysocolla are the principal ore minerals in the zone of oxidation closer to the surface. In some places however, vermiculite, malachite pseudomalachite and accessory wad are more important. At deeper levels chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite are predominantly present.

Mufulira
The rocks of the Mufulira Basin are asymmetrically folded, moderately dipping on the south western flank and sub vertical on the north eastern limb, outcropping at Mokambo on the DRC border. The Roan sediments in the Mufulira syncline in the vicinity of the mine dip at approximately 45º to the north east. Small folds and minor faults are present within the mine area. The Lower Roan arenaceous quartzites and greywackes are the host rocks to the copper mineralisation.

In the Mufulira mining area, the Basement Complex topography appears to have exerted a significant structural control during deformation. The distribution of ore minerals in all three orebodies is stratigraphically controlled, occurring dominantly as disseminations, blebs and irregular masses. The principal copper minerals are chalcopyrite (60%), bornite (40%), and minor/trace chalcocite. Oxide minerals are confined to near surface occurrences, and supergene enrichment zones. Generally the deposit is structurally simple being characterised by three main folds that are in part overturned with a plunge and dip approximately 10º to the northeast. The basin is open and untested at depth.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnits2024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Copper Metal kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe22 59 42 41 92 
Copper Metal in concentrate kt 11
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Financials

Units2023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Revenue M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 369.8  USD
Operating Income M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Gross profit M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Pre-tax Income M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
After-tax Income M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -698.9  USD -722.8  USD -290.1  USD
Operating Cash Flow M  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 9, 2024
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....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 9, 2024
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EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2020

Aerial view:

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