KONKOLA Copper Mines has successfully cast its first copper anode following an approximately US$40 million rehabilitation of the Nchanga Smelter, marking the restart of smelting operations after a 106-day shutdown. The refurbishment is the first major rehabilitation of its scale undertaken at the facility in more than eight years. The shutdown was initially scheduled to last 60 days, but detailed inspections conducted after the plant was opened identified additional critical works, resulting in the programme being extended to 106 days. Vedanta Resources originally invested approximately US$350 million in developing the Nchanga Smelter, which was commissioned in 2010 and currently has an annual production capacity of 311,000 tonnes. In a statement issued by KCM’s Corporate Affairs Department, Monday, KCM Deputy Chief...