Quick Facts

LocationNorth-Western Province; -12.28°S, 25.85°E
OwnershipBarrick Mining 100%
Production~120,000 tpa current; Barrick investing $2 billion to double production to 240,000 tpa by 2028
Workforce~5,000+
Primary MineralsCopper
Corridor ConnectionNorth-Western Province; potential corridor extension beneficiary
Operator Websitewww.barrick.com

Overview

Barrick Gold is investing $2 billion to double production at the Lumwana Mine through a Super Pit Expansion that will transform it from a mid-tier copper operation into a Tier One asset and one of the world's top 25 copper producers. Located in Zambia's North-Western Province, Lumwana is central to both Barrick's global copper strategy and Zambia's ambition to increase national copper output to 3 million tonnes annually by 2031.

The expansion, officially launched by President Hakainde Hichilema in October 2024 with construction commencing in 2025, will double throughput from 27 million tonnes to 52 million tonnes per annum. Annual copper production will double from approximately 120,000 tonnes to a life-of-mine average of 240,000 tonnes. Mining volumes will increase incrementally from 150 million tonnes in 2025 to 240 million tonnes by 2028 and 290 million tonnes from 2030 onwards.

The feasibility study shows an after-tax net present value of USD 3.9 billion and an internal rate of return of 49% at a copper price of USD 4.03 per pound, with expansion capital expected to be recovered in approximately two years after completion. Post-expansion C1 cash costs are estimated at approximately USD 1.85 per pound, placing Lumwana in the first quartile of the industry.

Since 2019, Lumwana has contributed over USD 4 billion to the Zambian economy through taxes, royalties, procurement and wages, with more than USD 3.4 billion spent with Zambian suppliers representing 79% of total procurement.

Corridor exposure

Lumwana is not yet presented as a committed Lobito shipper, but its North-Western Province location and planned 240,000 tpa production profile make it a natural Zambia-extension watch asset. If the Super Pit expansion reaches 2028 targets, Barrick's routing choices will affect the extension's cargo base alongside First Quantum and future Copperbelt projects.

What to monitor: construction progress, ESIA and permit compliance, procurement promises to Zambian suppliers, REDD+ implementation, and whether regional airport, housing, and supplier-park plans create broad local benefits or mainly serve mine expansion logistics.

Community Impact

Lumwana's expansion is catalysing regional development in the Kalumbila District. Plans include new employee housing in Manyama town, an industrial supplier park, and a regional airport expected to be operational by end 2025. A TEVETA-accredited training centre is being launched to expand Zambia's mining skills base.

Barrick's Business Accelerator Programme targets 150 SMEs to build local supply capacity ahead of the expansion. In Q1 2025, 81% of procurement (USD 177 million) was placed with local contractors.

Environmental Profile

Lumwana is advancing one of Zambia's most ambitious environmental initiatives: a REDD+ forest conservation programme in collaboration with local chiefdoms and the Forestry Department, covering up to 300,000 hectares. The project is designed to generate future carbon credits while supporting sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity, and land stewardship.

Barrick has invested up to USD 2 million in the REDD+ Project and completed an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approved in November 2024. All additional permits are on schedule for construction.

ESG Assessment

Status: Under Assessment

This mine has not yet received a formal Lobito Corridor ESG rating. Our assessment team is compiling baseline data from public sources, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. ESG ratings, when issued, will be verified through the source library.

Timeline

DateEvent
2008Lumwana begins production under Equinox Minerals
2011Barrick acquires Equinox, gains Lumwana
2019Barrick begins turnaround; mine was high-cost and underperforming
Oct 2024President Hichilema officially launches Super Pit development
Feb 2025Feasibility study completed; $2B capex confirmed
2025Construction underway; long-lead equipment ordered; ESIA approved
2028Target date for full 240,000 tpa production

Related Pages

This profile is produced independently by Lobito Corridor and does not represent the views of Barrick Mining Corporation or any government. Data sourced from public filings, government reports, and independent research. Last updated: May 19, 2026.

Independent ESG Assessment

Our independent ESG assessment evaluates this operation's environmental management, social impact, governance quality, and disclosure transparency. Environmental assessment covers water management, waste handling, air emissions, biodiversity impacts, and mine closure planning. Social assessment examines community relations, employment practices, local procurement, benefit-sharing, and human rights performance. Governance assessment evaluates corporate transparency, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement quality.

Assessment findings are incorporated into our quarterly Corridor ESG Scorecards, providing stakeholders with comparable, independent ratings across all major corridor mining operations. Operations meeting our assessment thresholds are eligible for verified ESG ratings issued from our evidence archive — verifiable reputation signals that differentiate responsible operators from those whose ESG claims are unsubstantiated. Rating publication requires demonstrated performance, not just policy commitments.

Community Impact Monitoring

Community impact monitoring around this operation tracks the full spectrum of mining effects on surrounding populations. Employment and procurement spending quantify direct economic benefits to local communities. Environmental monitoring tracks water quality, air quality, and ecosystem health in areas affected by operations. Community consultation processes are evaluated for meaningful participation versus performative compliance. Grievance mechanisms are assessed for accessibility, responsiveness, and outcome fairness.

Our monitoring provides the independent verification that enables stakeholders — investors, regulators, civil society, and affected communities themselves — to assess whether this operation delivers the community benefits that its social licence to operate requires. Documentation is preserved on our source evidence archive, creating permanent records that support long-term accountability and prevent the revisionism that undermines community claims when corporate memory proves conveniently selective.

Labour Practices Assessment

Labour practices at this operation are assessed against both national labour law requirements and international standards including ILO conventions and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Our assessment covers wage levels and payment practices, working hours and overtime compensation, occupational health and safety conditions, freedom of association and collective bargaining, contract terms and employment security, and subcontractor labour standards. Subcontractor labour conditions receive particular attention as subcontracting relationships can create distance between the operating company and workers that enables standards erosion.

Our assessment includes worker consultation that captures perspectives not reflected in corporate compliance reporting. Workers face barriers to reporting concerns through company channels including fear of retaliation, distrust of management-controlled grievance mechanisms, and language barriers. Our independent worker consultation provides confidential channels through which labour concerns can be documented and, where appropriate, escalated through advocacy or referral to labour rights organisations. All worker consultation documentation is handled with strict confidentiality to protect worker anonymity and prevent retaliation.

Supply Chain and Market Position

This mine's position within global mineral supply chains determines the economic dynamics that shape its operational decisions and community impact. Copper and cobalt prices, processing locations, end-user industries, and supply-demand dynamics create the commercial context within which environmental and social management decisions are made. When commodity prices are high, operators may invest more in community development and environmental management; when prices fall, these investments face pressure. Our monitoring tracks the relationship between market conditions and ESG performance to assess whether responsible practices are maintained through market cycles or only during profitable periods.

The corridor's logistics infrastructure — railway capacity, port throughput, transport costs — directly affects this mine's export economics. Improved corridor logistics reduce transport costs, improving mine profitability and potentially creating space for increased community benefit-sharing. Conversely, logistics bottlenecks increase costs and reduce the economic surplus available for community investment. Our strategic analysis evaluates how corridor infrastructure development affects this mine's economics and, consequently, the resources available for community benefit and environmental management.