First Quantum Minerals adjusts copper production forecasts in Zambia

First Quantum Minerals has revised its 2026 production forecasts for its major Zambian copper mines, Kansanshi and Sentinel. At Kansanshi, the company now expects production to reach approximately 277,000 tonnes, driven by an ore processing target of 27 million tonnes. This throughput exceeds the plant’s design capacity by 8%, supported by the $1.2 billion S3 expansion commissioned in August 2025.

Despite the growth at Kansanshi, the company has tightened its guidance for both key sites. For Kansanshi, the new 2026 forecast is between 175,000 and 185,000 tonnes, down from a previous upper limit of 205,000 tonnes. For the Sentinel mine, the revised forecast is 190,000 to 200,000 tonnes, compared to a previous range that reached up to 220,000 tonnes.

These operations are critical to Zambia’s national mining goals. The country produced approximately 890,346 tonnes of copper in 2025 and aims to reach three million tonnes annually by 2031. Following the suspension of its Cobre Panama operations in 2023, Zambia now accounts for roughly 93% of First Quantum’s total group copper output.