First Quantum Wraps Up $1.25 Billion Zambia Copper Project

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. on Tuesday commissioned a $1.25 billion expansion at its Kansanshi copper mine in Zambia, bringing online a long-deferred project at a crucial time for both the country and the company.

The S3 project — first mooted in 2012 — includes a new processing plant that nearly doubles Kansanshi’s ore-milling capacity, expands the smelter’s throughput capacity by about 25% and opens up a new pit. The firm’s board approved the expansion three years ago, after First Quantum reached agreement with the Zambian government on royalties and tax refunds.