Name of the Project
Lumwana superpit expansion project.

Location
North-Western province of Zambia.

Project Owner/s
Gold and copper mining company Barrick Gold.

Project Description
The expansion will increase Lumwana’s total copper production by more than 400%, compared with the total produced since operations started in 2009.

The project will extend Lumwana’s operational life by 17 years, until 2057, and double the capacity of the processing plant – from 27-million tonnes a year to a peak design capacity of 54-million tonnes a year. This will allow for an average copper output of 240 000 t/y over the life of the mine from a planned 52-million-tonnes-a-year process feed.

The expansion has significantly expanded mineral reserves, increasing proven and probable copper reserves from 510-million tonnes at 0.58% for three-million tonnes of contained copper as of year-end 2023, to 1.6-billion tonnes at 0.52% for 8.3-million tonnes of contained copper as of year-end 2024.

Key infrastructure developments include the expansion of existing mining operations at Chimiwungo and Malundwe, the opening of two new openpits at Kamisengo and Kababisa, and a substantial increase in mining capacity to 200-million tonnes a year in 2026 and 300-million tonnes a year in 2030.

By 2039, Lumwana is expected to reach a maximum peak mining capacity of 350-million tonnes a year, positioning it as the biggest mine in Africa by total tonnes moved. Technological advancements are central to the expansion, with plans to introduce high-level automation and modern process control systems. 

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
$2-billion.

The project will be self-funded by Barrick and current Lumwana operations, with an estimated payback period of about two years after completion, based on a copper price of $4.03/lb.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction is set to start in 2025.

Latest Developments
Site construction is under way, long-lead equipment orders have been placed, and infrastructure upgrades – including a new power transmission framework, developed in partnership with State-owned power utility ZESCO – are progressing to support the mine and the wider region.

The Lumwana expansion will drive the development of the Manyama township and industrial supplier park.  A new regional airstrip is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and a Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority-accredited training centre will be launched to expand Zambia’s mining skills base.
 
The mine is also advancing one of the country’s most ambitious environmental and carbon initiatives, with the development of a REDD+ forest conservation programme in collaboration with local chiefdoms and the Department of Forestry. Covering up to 300 000 ha, the project is designed to generate future carbon credits while supporting sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity and land stewardship.

REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
No details available.

Contact Details for Project Information
Barrick Gold investor and media relations, Kathy du Plessis, tel +44 20 7557 7738 or email barrick@dpapr.com.