By John Chola

After nearly two decades of silence, the Chingola “B” Mine has thundered back to life in what is shaping up to be one of Zambia’s most significant mining revivals in recent years.

On Thursday, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) officially reopened the historic mine with its first orebody blast in 18 years, in a ceremony led by KCM Group CEO Deshene Naidoo.

The restart is more than ceremonial. KCM says the mine is now expected to produce over 200,000 tonnes of ore per month, breathing new life into a once-productive asset that between 1980 and 2003 averaged 60,000 tonnes monthly at a 2.5 percent copper grade.

For KCM, the blast signals a dramatic operational turnaround and a major contribution toward Zambia’s ambitious target of producing 3 million tonnes of copper annually by 2031.

“This is more than a milestone. It symbolizes the continued growth and transformation of KCM,” Naidoo said, describing the company as a long-term pillar of Zambia’s copper industry.

KCM’s majority shareholder, Vedanta Resources, which owns 79.4 percent of the mining giant, has pledged to contribute 300,000 tonnes annually toward Zambia’s national production target.

Acting KCM Chief Operating Officer Praveen Sharma said Chingola “B” will play a central role in meeting that commitment, with mining operations now using modern and safer extraction methods in partnership with Teincomin.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, KCM leadership delivered a firm message on safety.

“As we celebrate this achievement today, safety remains our highest priority. I do not want a single tonne of copper produced before safety is fully assured,” Naidoo stressed.

Nchanga Operations Director Cross Silwamba echoed the same sentiment, saying workers must return home safely to their families every day.

Beyond reopening the mine, KCM is also upgrading its Tailings Leach Plant and constructing a six-kilometre pipeline aimed at improving operational efficiency as part of a broader modernization drive.

KCM Chief Corporate Affairs Officer John Kunda described the reopening as proof that strategic investment and disciplined execution can transform abandoned assets into engines of national growth.

“The reopening of Chingola ‘B’ is not just about bringing a mine back to life. It is proof that with the right investment, partnerships, and discipline, assets once written off can become national engines of growth,” Kunda said.

With more than US$1 billion earmarked by Vedanta for projects such as the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP), KCM says the revival of Chingola “B” marks the beginning of a new expansion phase driven by what Naidoo calls “quality mining.”

For Zambia’s copper sector, the first blast at Chingola “B” may prove to be more than a reopening, it could be the sound of a mining giant rising again.