Shaft 28 on Track to Produce First Copper Ore This Year, Says President Hichilema

Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mines is set to produce its first copper ore before the end of 2026, President Hakainde Hichilema has confirmed.

Speaking during a live interview on Radio Icengelo in Kitwe, the President said dewatering works at the shaft had been completed at a cost of around 600 million US dollars. The milestone marks a significant step in the Government's strategy to bring dormant mining assets back into production.

President Hichilema told listeners on the Copperbelt that the administration is taking a methodical approach to reviving old mines that had collapsed in previous years. The aim, he said, is to create jobs for Zambians and stimulate broader economic growth across the mining region.

The President also reaffirmed Zambia's copper production trajectory. The country is on course to produce one million tonnes of copper in 2026, a figure that places it firmly among Africa's leading copper producers. This target forms part of the Government's longer-term ambition to reach an annual output of three million tonnes.

The Luanshya development is expected to contribute meaningfully to that goal, with Shaft 28 returning to the production register after years of inactivity and substantial investment in its rehabilitation.