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
Not confirmed.

Latest Developments
Barrick has chosen to use end-to-end mining solutions company Metso’s Concorde Cell flotation technology.

The Concorde Cell flotation cells will work in combination with the TankCell technology that Barrick previously selected for the project.

The high-intensity technology is Metso’s advanced solution for processing complex orebodies.

Integrating the two technologies represents a reliable and highly effective way of optimising the flowsheet, Metso has stated.

The forced-air pneumatic Concorde Cell is known to deliver faster flotation kinetics, for its exceptional recovery rates of fine and ultrafine particles, and for improved concentrate-grade consistency. 

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Metso (flotation technology).

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