Vedanta Resources PLC plans to double Konkola Copper Mines PLC's finished copper production to 200,000 tonnes this year, Reuters reported June 12.
"Last year we produced just under 100,000 tonnes and I want us to get to 200,000 tonnes this year," Deshnee Naidoo, head of its African base metals segment, told the newswire.
Naidoo added that Konkola is set to produce 400,000 tonnes of copper per annum in the next few years. In February, the company said it could expedite the expansion of its African zinc operations to capitalize on the zinc price rally.
Konkola has invested around US$5 billion into its Zambian mines since 2004, including a US$1 billion investment committed in 2017 to revamp and upgrade some mines.
The London-listed miner also plans to invest around US$300 million in a 300 MW coal-fired power plant in the African country and has kicked off pre-feasibility studies, Naidoo added.
The company is looking at building another power plant at a zinc refinery at its Gamsberg project in South Africa. Gamsberg is set to come online within a month, and will ramp up to full production of 250,000 tonnes per annum in about 12 months.
Vedanta said in May that Gamsberg could see a further investment of between US$700 million and US$800 million for a smelter-refinery complex.
In addition, Naidoo noted that the company may not be able to start underground mining at the Skorpion zinc mine in Namibia after open pit operations conclude around 2020.
"As it stands, we might only extend the mine life by another 2-3 years," the executive said.
Skorpion is expected to deliver about 90,000 tonnes of zinc this year, with production reaching around 130,000 tonnes by 2020.
