Zijin Mining Warns of Copper Shortfall After Congo Flooding

Zijin Mining Group Co. announced that its full-year copper production target is under pressure due to flooding at the Kamoa-Kakula mine complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company expects its share of output from the project, where it holds a stake of just over 44%, to decrease by as much as 57,000 tons this year.

Production at the site is currently recovering after seismic activity and subsequent flooding forced a suspension of operations last year. This disruption follows a previous move by partner Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., which lowered its 2026 production guidance for the mine to between 290,000 and 330,000 tons.

Despite the shortfall at Kamoa-Kakula, Zijin maintains a total 2026 production target of 1.2 million tons of mined copper. The supply disruption occurs while copper prices trade near record highs above $14,000 a ton, fueled by increasing demand for artificial-intelligence infrastructure and electrification.