Mopani Copper Mines, Zambia’s third-largest copper producer, expects its main copper smelter to remain shut until the end of February 2025, Chief Executive Charles Sakanya said.
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That has further fueled fears of production disruptions in Zambia, Africa’s second-biggest producer of the industrial metal. He said the closure would allow repair work to be completed at the plant.
“Following a breakdown of the oxygen plant on November 21 … the smelter will remain closed to facilitate maintenance works,” he said. “Every effort is being made to complete the works early.” Zambia’s copper output fell to a 14-year low of 698,566 metric tonnes last year amid operational challenges at some of the country’s older mines.
