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Africa

16 June 2026

Maintenance halt for Konkola copper smelter

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, said on June 3rd that it had begun a planned 60-day maintenance shutdown of its Nchanga smelter in Zambia. KCM said that the routine maintenance is aimed at improving operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and long-term production performance, and forms part of the company’s broader modernisation strategy, aimed at increasing its capacity toward a target of 300,000 t/a of copper by 2030. KCM produced 80,000 t/a of copper in 2025 according to government figures.

The Nchanga smelter shutdown means that from June to mid-September, Zambia’s three major processing plants — the Mopani, Chambishi and Nchanga smelters — will take extended maintenance shutdowns, tightening copper and sulphuric acid output at a time when acid is at a premium because of the conflict in Iran. KCM says that, during the shutdown, sulphuric acid supply for the Nchanga tailings leach plant will be secured through external procurement and its own acid plant with a daily capacity of 500 t/d.

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Electrolyser contract signed for green ammonia project

Chinese companies Sungrow Hydrogen and CRRC Zhuzhou say that they have secured electrolyser supply contracts for the first phase of a geothermal-powered hydrogen and ammonia project in Olkaria, Kenya, developed by Chinese firm Kaishan Group. Kaishan signed a steam supply agreement with state utility KenGen in October 2025, under which KenGen will supply steam from existing geothermal wells for Kaishan to generate 165MW of electricity to power the electrolysers. Chinese firm Wuhuan Engineering is serving as engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Works on the site began in November 2025.

MoU for green ammonia hub

Abu Qir Fertilizers & Chemicals, Alexandria Fertilizers, Orascom Construction SAE, and Green Hydrogen Development Holding, a subsidiary of China’s United Energy Group (UEG), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of a Mediterranean green hydrogen hub in Alexandria. The proposed project would centre on a large-scale green hydrogen facility powered by wind and solar, with output integrated into existing ammonia infrastructure in the region. Under the agreement, UEG and Orascom will lead feasibility studies covering 500 MW of renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production, while Abu Qir and Alexfert will assess integration into ammonia operations and support access to local infrastructure.