KCM Launches Historic Rail Upgrade to Boost Copper Output
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has launched a transformative high-speed rail rehabilitation project at its Konkola underground mine, aimed at significantly increasing ore transportation capacity and supporting Zambia’s broader copper production targets.
The project, spanning 5,934 meters of underground rail network, was officially inaugurated on 2nd July 2025 by Vedanta Group CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, during her visit to the mining site in Chililabombwe. The ambitious upgrade is being executed in partnership with rail infrastructure experts, Flint Rail Projects.
KCM Chief Operating Officer, Malcolm Mewett, said the rail rehabilitation will be implemented in three phases, beginning at the 875-meter level at No. 4 Shaft, with full completion expected by April 2026.
“Konkola Mine hosts one of the richest copper orebodies in the world,” Mewett noted. “But deteriorated rail infrastructure has caused tramming bottlenecks. This upgrade will modernize our system—boosting speed, reliability, and overall ore transport efficiency underground.”
The project is expected to increase tramming capacity from the current 850,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) to 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with long-term plans to reach 4 million tonnes per annum. The modernization will also reduce derailments and cycle times, significantly improving mine productivity.
KCM Director Mining, Praveen Sharma, hailed the initiative as a “historic milestone” and the first major rail upgrade at the mine in over a decade.
“This investment marks a bold step in our long-term strategy to modernize operations and reaffirm Konkola Mine’s role as a key player in Zambia’s mining sector,” Sharma said.
The improved infrastructure is pivotal in helping KCM meet its ambitious target of producing 300,000 tonnes of copper annually by 2031. The move aligns with Zambia’s national goal to reach 3 million tonnes of copper production by 2030, underscoring the project’s significance to the country’s mining-led growth ambitions.
