Name of the Project
Lumwana Super Pit expansion project.

Location
About 100 km west of Solwezi, in Zambia's Copperbelt.

Project Owner/s
Gold and copper producer Barrick Mining Corporation.

Project Description
Lumwana is a conventional openpit, truck-and-shovel copper operation. The ore is predominantly sulphide and is processed through a conventional sulphide flotation plant to produce copper concentrate.

The Super Pit expansion is designed to transform Lumwana into a long-life, high-yielding copper operation. The project will extend the mine life to 2057 and increase copper output to an average of about 240 000 t/y over the life of the mine.

The expansion will double the processing plant capacity, from the current 27-million tonnes a year to a planned process feed of about 52-million tonnes a year. The existing process circuit will be twinned, supported by a significant ramp-up in mining volumes.

Key infrastructure developments include the expansion of existing mining operations at Chimiwungo and Malundwe, the opening of two new openpits at Kamisengo and Kababisa, and the progressive increase in mining capacity.

By 2039, Lumwana is expected to reach a peak mining capacity of about 350-million tonnes a year, positioning it as one of the biggest mines in Africa by total tonnes moved. Technological advancements are central to the expansion, with plans to introduce high-level automation and modern process control systems.

The expansion has significantly increased mineral reserves. Proven and probable copper reserves increased from 510-million tonnes at 0.58% copper, containing three-million tonnes of copper, as at the end of 2023, to 1.6-billion tonnes at 0.52% copper, containing 8.3-million tonnes of copper, as at the end of 2024.

Potential Job Creation
The expansion is expected to require about 550 additional workers over five years to support the ramp-up, as well as about 2 500 construction workers for a three-year period until 2028.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not disclosed.

Capital Expenditure
$2-billion.

Barrick expects 2026 capital expenditure for the expansion to be at the lower end of its $750-million to $850-million guidance range, with total project capital still anticipated at $2-billion.

The project is expected to be self-funded by Barrick and the current Lumwana operations.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction is under way. First copper production from the expansion remains on track for the end of the first quarter of 2028. 

Latest Developments
Construction of the expansion continued on time and on budget during the first quarter of 2026. The initial lift of the mill building wall was completed, and mill shells were delivered to site.

The first structural steel deliveries are expected in the second quarter. Barrick expects 2026 project capital expenditure to be at the lower end of the $750-million to $850-million guidance range.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Metso (TankCell and Concorde Cell flotation technology).

Contact Details for Project Information
Brunswick Group, Carole Cable, on behalf of Barrick Mining Corporation, tel +44 20 7404 5959 or email barrick@brunswickgroup.com.