Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s leading gold and copper producer, planned to complete the feasibility study for the expansion project of the Lumwana mine in Zambia by the end of this year, which set a good preparation to start the construction in 2025.

The expansion is aimed at establishing the Lumwana copper mine as a top-grade mine with a long life and high production. The expansion plan is to double throughput by twinning the existing process circuit and significantly increase mining volumes. Therefore, the plant throughput will grow from 27 million tons to 52 million tons, and the annual copper production will increase to a life-of-mine average of 240,000 tons from the current 120,000 tons.

Mark Bristow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick Gold, said that the successful expansion of the Lumwana copper mine will consolidate the company’s leadership in the global copper mine market and will also bring growth to the economic development of Zambia and the entire African region.