Barrick’s Lumwana a ‘growing force in African copper’
- 11 July 2025
Barrick Mining Corp CEO Mark Bristow says the company’s major Lumwana copper operation in Zambia, the focus of a US$2 billion expansion, is becoming a “flagship for sustainable copper mining”.
Bristow said this week at the site that six years after Barrick reviewed Lumwana as underperforming and high-cost it was being transformed into a growing force in African copper.
“With this expansion gaining momentum Lumwana is on course to join the world’s list of large and strategically important copper mines and a powerful driver of growth for both Zambia and Barrick,” he said.
Barrick is doubling 100%-owned Lumwana’s annual copper production to 240,000 tonnes per annum via its Super Pit opencut development, taking annual material movement to 240 million tonnes per annum, and expanded 52Mtpa processing plant. It expects to achieve the elevated mining and processing rates by the end of 2028.
Lumwana has current proven and probable reserves of 1.6 billion tonnes grading 0.52% for 8.3Mt contained copper.
Bristow said infrastructure upgrades — including a new power transmission framework developed in partnership with ZESCO — were progressing to support both the mine and the wider region.
In the past six years Lumwana had contributed more than $4 billion to the Zambian economy through taxes, royalties, procurement and wages. More than $3.4 billion had been spent with Zambian suppliers, representing 79% of its total procurement. About 98% of the current plus-3000 direct workforce are Zambian nationals, with nearly half drawn from nearby communities.
Barrack says Lumwana’s expansion is driving development of the Manyama township and industrial supplier park as part of an integrated development plan aligned with Zambia’s Mining and Minerals 2031 policy. A new regional airstrip is expected to be completed by the end of the year and a TEVETA-accredited training centre will be launched to expand Zambia’s mining skills base.
“The mine is also advancing one of the country’s most ambitious environmental and carbon initiatives with the development of a REDD+ forest conservation program in collaboration with local chiefdoms and the Forestry Department,” the company says. “Covering up to 300,000 hectares, the project is designed to generate future carbon credits while supporting sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity and land stewardship.”
Bristow said Lumwana showed how a world-class mine could help build an industrial ecosystem while safeguarding the environment and expanding economic activity.
“We’re not just expanding a mine, we’re strengthening a partnership,” he said.
“Our teams are actively exploring further growth opportunities across the Zambian copperbelt, building on our recently signed memorandum of understanding with the Government of Zambia. Together, we’re laying the foundation for lasting economic and social development that will endure long after mining ends.”
Mark Bristow is a keynote speaker at this year’s Resourcing Tomorrow 2025 conference in London from December 2-4.
