Congo Mine Flood Threatens Zijin’s 2026 Copper Target
Zijin Mining Group has warned that flooding at a major copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo could affect its 2026 production target.
The Chinese mining company said its share of output from the Kamoa-Kakula mine could fall by up to 57,000 tonnes this year.
The mine is still recovering from disruptions caused by seismic activity and flooding, which forced operations to stop last year.
Zijin disclosed the expected production setback in its half-year report published on Friday. The company owns slightly more than 44 per cent of the project.
The warning comes as copper prices remain close to record levels, with the metal trading above $14,000 per tonne.
Growing demand from electrification projects and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure has increased pressure on global copper supplies.
Zijin is targeting 1.2 million tonnes of mined copper production in 2026 from its operations across China, Serbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, Kamoa-Kakula’s production forecast has already been reduced by one of its partners, Ivanhoe Mines.
In April, Ivanhoe lowered its 2026 production estimate for the mine to between 290,000 and 330,000 tonnes.
The revised forecast was down from its earlier projection of between 380,000 and 420,000 tonnes.
The latest setback has added to concerns over global copper supplies as demand for the metal continues to rise.
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