Lubambe Copper Mine
Lubambe Copper Mine is a Zambia-based copper mining operation producing copper concentrates and cathode copper for global commodity markets. It operates as one of three core assets within the ZCCM Investment Holdings portfolio and is currently undergoing recapitalisation and restructuring.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersChingola, Zambia
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lubambe Copper Mine does
Lubambe Copper Mine is a copper mining operation based in Chingola, in Zambia's Copperbelt. It is one of three core copper mining assets held by ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC (ZCCM-IH), alongside the Mopani and Konkola copper mines, and operates as part of that holding company's portfolio. The mine produces copper concentrates and cathode copper, commodity products sold into global markets.
The operation sells its output through direct B2B channels to smelters, metal traders, and commodity exchanges, with copper sold at prevailing market prices. Lubambe's functional role within the ZCCM-IH portfolio is to supply industrial copper, a commodity used globally in electrical wiring, construction, and manufacturing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is effectively set by the London Metal Exchange-linked benchmark pricing mechanism that governs the broader copper market.
Lubambe is presently inside a portfolio-wide recapitalisation and restructuring programme led by ZCCM-IH, intended to restore profitability over the medium term. In FY 2025 the ZCCM-IH group recorded a net loss of ZMW 2.79 billion (US$110.72 million), a sharp reversal from a ZMW 39.85 billion net profit in FY 2024, reflecting cost pressure (approximately 41% year-over-year cost increase) and a ZMW 973 million legal provision tied to a Trafigura arbitration award. A US$150 million legacy debt to Glencore was fully repaid in April 2026, reducing the capital structure's legacy encumbrances.
Lubambe Copper Mine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lubambe Copper Mine
- Legal name
- Lubambe Copper Mine
- Website
- https://lubambe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Lubambe Copper Mine is a Zambia-based copper mining operation producing copper concentrates and cathode copper for global commodity markets. It operates as one of three core assets within the ZCCM Investment Holdings portfolio and is currently undergoing recapitalisation and restructuring.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lubambe Copper Mine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Copper Mining
- NAICS
- Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground) (IMAKADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Copper Concentration (Crushing, Grinding, Flotation) (IMAKADAC)
Keywords
Where Lubambe Copper Mine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chingola
- HQ country
- Zambia
- HQ region
- Africa
Markets served
Lubambe Copper Mine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Others
Lubambe Copper Mine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lubambe Copper Mine is an underground copper mining operation located in Chingola, Zambia, that extracts ore and produces copper concentrates and cathode copper for sale into global commodity markets. The mine is part of the ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) portfolio alongside the Mopani and Konkola copper mines and is currently undergoing recapitalisation and restructuring.
Product overview
Lubambe Copper Mine is a copper mining operation located in Zambia. It operates as one of several copper mining assets within the ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) portfolio. The mine is currently undergoing recapitalisation and restructuring as part of ZCCM-IH's strategic initiatives to restore profitability over the medium term. The company extracts and produces copper concentrate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Copper Concentrate
- Cathode Copper
Companies that use Lubambe Copper Mine
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Lubambe Copper Mine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lubambe Copper Mine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TrafiguraminorTrafigura arbitration award resulted in a ZMW 973 million legal provision being recorded. This represents a legal/contractual matter rather than an active partnership.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Lubambe Copper Mine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- MMG Limited: Operates the Kinsevere copper mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, directly adjacent to Zambia's Copperbelt. MMG is a relevant regional comparable in terms of African copper operations, infrastructure access, and concentrate/cathode product mix.
- China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Limited: Chinese state-linked operator of the Chambishi copper mine and smelter in Zambia. CNMC is a regional peer with exposure to the same Copperbelt infrastructure and produces both copper concentrate and cathode, directly comparable to Lubambe's product mix.
Broad incumbents
- Freeport-McMoRan Inc. One of the world's largest publicly traded copper producers. Freeport's global copper operations and disclosed unit-cost benchmarking provide reference points for evaluating the operational and financial trajectory of mid-sized copper assets such as Lubambe.
- Glencore plc: Global mining major and former legacy creditor to Lubambe (US$150 million debt fully repaid April 2026). Glencore's copper trading desk and integrated mining portfolio make it both a former counterparty and a broad industry comparable in terms of scale and operational benchmarks.
- Southern Copper Corporation: Major integrated copper producer with mining, smelting, and refining operations. Southern Copper's vertically integrated model and disclosure of mine-level economics make it a useful broad benchmark for Lubambe's copper concentrate and cathode production economics.
- Antofagasta plc: London-listed major copper miner with operations primarily in Chile. Antofagasta is a broad industry comparable for benchmarking concentrate production economics, cost curves, and capital allocation strategies applicable to mid-tier copper producers like Lubambe.
Direct peers
- Barrick Gold (Lumwana Copper Mine): Operates the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia's Copperbelt. Lumwana is a regional peer producing copper concentrates from a similar ore body type, and Barrick's broader copper portfolio provides useful operational and capital benchmarking.
- Mopani Copper Mines: Sister copper mine also held by ZCCM-IH in Zambia's Copperbelt. Mopani and Lubambe share the same parent, the same recapitalisation/restructuring programme, and the same regulatory and infrastructure environment, making them the closest comparable operational asset.
- First Quantum Minerals: Operates the Kansanshi and Sentinel copper mines in Zambia, alongside other copper assets. First Quantum is a directly comparable Zambian copper producer with similar product mix, infrastructure dependencies, and exposure to Copperbelt operating conditions.
- Konkola Copper Mines (KCM): Third copper mine in ZCCM-IH's portfolio undergoing the same recapitalisation. KCM is a major Zambian Copperbelt producer and is directly comparable to Lubambe in terms of parent, jurisdiction, restructuring status, and product mix.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Lubambe Copper Mine social profiles
Digital presenceLubambe Copper Mine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lubambe Copper Mine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lubambe Copper Mine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lubambe Copper Mine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lubambe Copper Mine
What does Lubambe Copper Mine do?
Lubambe Copper Mine is an underground copper mining operation located in Chingola, Zambia, that extracts ore and produces copper concentrates and cathode copper for sale into global commodity markets. The mine is part of the ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) portfolio alongside the Mopani and Konkola copper mines and is currently undergoing recapitalisation and restructuring.
When was Lubambe Copper Mine founded?
Lubambe Copper Mine was founded in 2012.
Where is Lubambe Copper Mine based?
Lubambe Copper Mine is headquartered in Chingola, Zambia, in the Africa region.
Who are Lubambe Copper Mine's main competitors?
Regional players on record are MMG Limited and China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Limited. Broad incumbents are Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Glencore plc, Southern Copper Corporation and Antofagasta plc. Direct peers are Barrick Gold (Lumwana Copper Mine), Mopani Copper Mines, First Quantum Minerals and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).
Does Lubambe Copper Mine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lubambe Copper Mine.
What industry is Lubambe Copper Mine in?
Lubambe Copper Mine's product category is Copper Mining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKADAB, Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground), with a secondary code of IMAKADAC, Copper Concentration (Crushing, Grinding, Flotation). Its NAICS code is 212230 and its SIC code is 1000.