Vedanta Resources Sees 21% Jump in Copper Output in Zambia

Vedanta Resources PLC has reported a significant increase in copper production in Zambia, with a 21% jump in the company's third-quarter output in the country. The improvement was primarily due to enhanced operations at Nchanga, where production at open pits and tailings leach operations rose. This achievement is part of Vedanta's ongoing efforts to optimize operational efficiencies across all its operations.

Key Takeaways:

Vedanta Resources' copper output in Zambia increased by 21% in the third quarter, rising to 34,000 metric tons from 28,000 tons in the same period the previous year.
The improvement at Nchanga operations was attributed to higher production at open pits and higher throughput at tailings leach operations.
Vedanta's Zambian operations comprise four mines, including Konkola, Nchanga, and Nampundwe, as well as a tailings leach plant at Nchanga and a smelter at Nkana.
Konkola Copper Mines, owned and operated by Vedanta, is Zambia's largest copper producer, and Zambia is Africa's biggest copper producer.
Integrated copper production during the nine-month period was 100,000 tons, 8% higher than the corresponding prior period.
Mined metal production for the third quarter was up 18% to 26,000 tons year-on-year and rose 22% in the nine-month period to 73,000 tons.
Vedanta is working on several projects, including the Konkola Deep mining project, which aims to boost copper ore output from 2 million tons a year to 7.5 million tons a year.
The company's work on the new concentrators at Nchanga and the Chingola refractory ore project is progressing on schedule.

Statistics:

Copper output in Zambia: 100,000 tons (nine-month period), 21% higher than in the same period the previous year.
Integrated copper production: 169,000 tons (same period).
Mined metal production for the third quarter: 26,000 tons, 18% higher than in the same period the previous year.
Mined metal production for the nine-month period: 73,000 tons, 22% higher than in the same period the previous year.

Sources:

Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex
Vedanta Resources PLC
Andrea Hotter, Dow Jones Newswires