Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), the Zambian unit of Vedanta Resources, plans to invest approximately $317 million in a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant as it seeks to secure reliable electricity supplies for its expanding copper mining operations in Zambia.
The proposed facility will be located in southern Zambia and is intended to help address persistent electricity shortages that have affected mining activities across the country, particularly in the Copperbelt region, where mining companies depend heavily on stable power supplies for production.
The project comes as Zambia continues to grapple with an energy crisis triggered by reduced hydropower generation. The country relies heavily on hydroelectricity, but prolonged drought conditions and low water levels at key reservoirs, including Kariba Dam, have constrained power output and led to recurring electricity shortages.
KCM is one of Zambia’s largest copper producers, operating major underground and open-pit mines, smelters and refineries. Since Vedanta regained management control of the company, it has been pursuing an ambitious turnaround and expansion programme aimed at significantly increasing copper production. Reliable electricity is considered critical to achieving those growth targets.
The planned power station is expected to function as a captive power plant, supplying electricity directly to KCM’s operations and reducing the company’s dependence on the national grid.
Mining activities, particularly deep underground operations, require large and uninterrupted power supplies, and previous grid disruptions have affected output levels at the company’s mines.
The investment also highlights a broader shift in Zambia’s mining sector toward diversifying energy sources. While hydropower has historically dominated the country’s electricity mix, mining firms and government stakeholders are increasingly exploring thermal, solar and other alternative energy sources to improve energy security and support industrial growth.
The KCM project follows other major power developments in Zambia, including ongoing coal-fired generation projects and new renewable energy investments designed to reduce pressure on the national grid.
Industry analysts say energy diversification has become a priority as climate-related weather variability increasingly affects hydropower generation across southern Africa.
The announcement comes at a time when global demand for copper is expected to rise sharply, driven by the growth of electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure and power transmission networks.
Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, is seeking to expand output and attract new mining investment to capitalize on the growing demand for the metal.
For KCM, the planned coal-fired power station is expected to play a central role in supporting future production growth, while underscoring the challenges facing mining companies operating in regions where energy supply remains vulnerable to climate-related disruptions and infrastructure constraints.
