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On June 17 (local time), Wang Pingwei, Chairman and President of Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Sinomine”), held separate meetings in Lusaka with Dr. Pamela Nakamba, Economic Adviser to the President of Zambia; Dr. Lawrence Mwananyanda, Special Assistant to the President for Projects; Patrick Kangwa, Secretary to the Cabinet; and Siazongo Siakalenge, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet responsible for finance and economic development. Chairman Wang briefed the officials on the latest construction progress and future plans for Sinomine’s Kitumba Copper Project in Zambia.
Chairman Wang provided a detailed update on the project. With a total investment of USD 610 million, the Kitumba Copper Project has created approximately 3,900 local jobs, with employment expected to increase to between 5,000 and 6,000 in the future. Equipment procurement, civil construction, and equipment and pipeline installation are currently progressing as planned. The project is working toward completing preparations for the commissioning or trial operation of the processing plant in the third quarter of 2026.
The project has consistently placed environmental protection among its key priorities and is actively advancing a green development model integrating resources and energy.
The Zambian officials spoke highly of the project’s construction speed and execution efficiency. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa noted that, from the start of construction in 2024 to the end of June 2026, an undeveloped site had been transformed into a rapidly advancing processing plant in just two years. He described it as the fastest-moving mining project under the current administration and said it would make an important contribution to Zambia’s national goal of increasing annual copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031.
The officials also expressed strong recognition of the project’s environmental and clean energy initiatives. Its innovative solar power and energy storage model is designed not only to meet the project’s own electricity needs, but also to allow surplus power to be sold externally. This integrated resources-and-energy model offers a practical response to Zambia’s power shortages and sets a strong example for other mining companies.
The Zambian officials also commended Sinomine for its level of investment and commitment to social responsibility. Dr. Nakamba and Dr. Mwananyanda expressed appreciation for Sinomine’s confidence in Zambia’s investment environment and its continued expansion of investment in the country.
Secretary Kangwa noted that, even during the early stages of construction, the Company had already invested in local community infrastructure, including the construction of a 52-kilometre road, the development of a community market, and the drilling of water wells. The officials agreed that Sinomine has not only supported local industrialization and increased residents’ purchasing power, but has also demonstrated through practical action its commitment to “not only transforming the land, but also improving lives.”
