Canadian-based mining and metals company, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has launched a transformative US $1.25 billion S3 expansion at its Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia, a significant step that will help triple the nation’s copper output by 2030.
The board-approved Kansanshi S3 Expansion marks the largest copper investment in Zambia in nearly a decade and signals First Quantum’s enduring commitment to the country’s mining future.
The S3 Expansion will add a standalone 25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) processing plant and a new, larger mining fleet, increasing Kansanshi’s total annual throughput from 28 Mtpa to 53 Mtpa. Production is expected to average around 250,000 tonnes of copper per year through to the mine’s projected life-of-mine in 2044.
In addition, the smelter’s capacity is being increased from 1.38 Mtpa to 1.65 Mtpa of concentrate, enabling it to produce over 400,000 t/y of copper anode.
The US $1.25 billion total capital expenditure comprises roughly US $900 million allocated to the S3 processing plant and mine fleet, and US $350 million set aside for pre-stripping operations at the South East Dome pit.
In construction progress, as of late 2024, the process plant reached 62 percent completion, with early commissioning underway—including control system configuration, operational readiness training, and site commissioning—signaling steady momentum toward full operational capacity.
By the first quarter of 2025, construction had advanced to 83 percent completion, with 20 percent of systems handed over to commissioning teams, while plant control system configuration stood at 84 percent and operational readiness had reached 75 percent.
FQM anticipates first production from the S3 Expansion in the second half of 2025.
President Hakainde Hichilema officially commissioned the project, describing it as a “game changer” toward achieving Zambia’s national production goal of 3 million tonnes of copper per annum by 2031. He stated that Kansanshi’s expanded output, in concert with FQM’s other operations, would contribute up to 500,000 tonnes per year, reinforcing investor confidence and macroeconomic stability.
The expansion also bears substantial social impact: the construction phase is projected to create around 1,800 temporary jobs, while approximately 800 permanent roles will be sustained afterward. FQM has prioritized local hiring and skills development, with over 350 direct hires already from Solwezi.
By enabling bulk mining of deeper, lower-grade sulphide ores, the S3 Expansion transitions the operation to a larger scale while securing Kansanshi’s viability for decades. The project supports both the company’s growth strategy and Zambia’s ambitions for economic development through copper.
In summary, the US $1.25 billion S3 Expansion at Kansanshi is a pivotal leap for First Quantum Minerals and Zambia’s mining sector—boosting capacity, extending mine life, generating employment, and aligning with national goals for tripling copper output in the coming decade.
