Zambian Ministers Witness US$1.25 Billion Kansanshi Expansion and Cold Box Technology
A high-profile delegation of Zambian government officials recently visited First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi Mining PLC to witness the progress of the US$1.25 billion S3 expansion project, designed to enhance the mine’s operations and extend its lifespan by more than 25 years.
The delegation, led by Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe and including Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa, Labour Minister Brenda Tambatamba, North-Western Minister Robert Lihefu, and Solwezi MP Stafford Mulusa, toured the site where they were welcomed by Kansanshi Mining PLC General Manager Meiring Burger and FQM Country Manager Dr. Godwin Beene.
During the tour, Mr. Burger highlighted the installation of a critical piece of equipment in the smelter expansion: a Cold Box. This US$2.73 million device, sourced from Malaysia, is key to improving copper smelting by extracting pure oxygen from the air.
The technology significantly accelerates the smelting process, allowing Kansanshi to process an additional 400,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually, thus boosting production and reducing Zambia’s reliance on exporting raw concentrate.
The Cold Box technology enhances the purity of copper concentrate from 20-25% to 99.5%, removing impurities like silica and iron through oxidation. The first Cold Box, installed in 2013, demonstrated great success, and the new unit was introduced to meet the increasing global demand for copper.
In addition to the Cold Box, Kansanshi Mining invested US$550,000 in road improvements to facilitate the equipment’s transport from Walvis Bay Port in Namibia, while Vanguard Heavy Lift handled logistics, costing an additional US$1.2 million.
This development is expected to significantly benefit Zambia’s economy by boosting local copper processing, supporting national goals of beneficiation, job creation, and value addition to the country’s natural resources. It reinforces Zambia’s standing as a global leader in copper production, driving economic growth and securing long-term industry sustainability.
