As August begins, attention is turning to Zambia's Luanshya Copper Mine, where the upper mine is scheduled to resume production this month. However, at the time of writing, no official update has confirmed whether operations have commenced, making the project an important test of Zambia's broader strategy to expand copper production through the revival of dormant mining assets. According to the Ministry of Mines, production at the upper mine is expected to resume following the completion of dewatering works, while production at the lower mine is planned for 2029 under the ongoing redevelopment of Shaft 28 by China Luanshya Mine (CLM). The redevelopment represents an investment of approximately US$710 million, covering new shaft systems, a concentrator plant and supporting infrastructure. The Ministry also said more than US$75 million has already been invested, with CLM exploring potential collaboration with ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to develop newly acquired mining areas. Once fully operational, Luanshya is expected to produce approximately 100,000 tonnes of copper annually by 2030, supporting Zambia's ambition of increasing national copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031. The project is regarded as an important demonstration of how brownfield redevelopment could complement new mine developments in accelerating future copper supply. The planned restart of Luanshya's upper mine will be closely watched by investors and the mining industry. Beyond adding new copper supply, the project will serve as an early indicator of Zambia's ability to unlock value from legacy mining assets while advancing long-term redevelopment projects. Successful execution could strengthen confidence in similar brownfield investments across the Copperbelt and reinforce Zambia's long-term copper growth strategy.

As Vietnam accelerates investments in its bauxite, alumina and aluminium sectors, the country is preparing to host its first international event dedicated exclusively to the industry. The 15 th International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Conference & Exhibition ( IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026 ) will take place on October 28–29, 2026 , at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology , bringing together global stakeholders to discuss the future of the aluminium value chain in one of Asia's fastest-growing markets. Jointly organized by the International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS) and the Vietnam Foundry & Metallurgy Science and Technology Association (VFMSTA) , the conference is expected to become a key platform for technology exchange, business development and international collaboration. The technical programme has already generated considerable interest, with around 50 abstracts submitted by researchers and industry professionals from across the world. The sessions will address topics ranging from bauxite mining and alumina refining to aluminium smelting, downstream manufacturing, recycling, sustainability, digital transformation, critical minerals and next-generation process technologies. The event has also attracted participation from leading international organizations. China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (NFC) , Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) and the Shenyang Aluminium & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute (SAMI) have confirmed their participation, highlighting the conference's growing international profile. On the exhibition front, PLA Process Analysers (Australia) and JGHECEPT Co., Ltd. (China) are among the early exhibitors that will showcase advanced technologies and engineering solutions for the aluminium industry. With Vietnam possessing one of the world's largest bauxite resources and expanding its alumina, aluminium and critical minerals industries, the conference is expected to create significant opportunities for producers, engineering and EPC companies, equipment manufacturers, technology suppliers, researchers, investors and downstream users. Alongside technical sessions, delegates will benefit from an international exhibition, business networking programmes and industrial visits designed to encourage partnerships and investment. Registrations, sponsorship opportunities, exhibition bookings and technical paper submissions are currently open. Companies/Organizations interested in participating can obtain further information by contacting info@ibaas.info or visiting www.ibaas.info .

Glencore has announced plans to pursue a secondary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), a move aimed at expanding its access to one of the world's largest pools of mining-focused institutional capital while strengthening support for its long-term copper growth strategy. According to the company, the listing is intended to broaden its shareholder base, improve trading liquidity and enhance its presence in one of its key operating regions. The announcement comes as Glencore continues to target significant growth in its copper business. The company expects copper production to reach 810,000–870,000 tonnes in 2026 and has outlined an ambition to increase annual output to approximately 1.6 million tonnes by 2035 through a combination of organic project development and strategic investments. Glencore also reported US$4 billion in net capital expenditure during the first half of the year, with continued investment across its copper portfolio to support future expansion. While the proposed Australian listing will not involve new share issuance or capital raising, industry analysts believe it could improve Glencore's access to Australia's deep pool of mining investors and provide greater strategic flexibility for future mergers and acquisitions. The planned ASX listing reflects the growing importance of copper in global mining investment strategies. As demand for copper continues to be driven by electrification, renewable energy and digital infrastructure, enhanced access to long-term institutional capital could strengthen Glencore's ability to advance new projects, expand production capacity and pursue strategic acquisitions in the global copper sector.

With Zambia's general election scheduled for August 13, the country's mining industry is calling for stronger government support to accelerate copper sector expansion, including incentives for mineral processing, increased greenfield exploration and additional power generation capacity. Africa's second-largest copper producer aims to increase annual copper output to 3 million tonnes, nearly triple current production, to capitalize on rising global demand driven by electric vehicles, power grids and infrastructure development. Benchmark copper prices have climbed more than 40% over the past year to around US$14,000 per tonne. The Zambia Chamber of Mines said tax reforms and improved engagement between government and mining companies have attracted more than US$10 billion of investment since the 2021 election. President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to win re-election, with mining policies likely to remain largely unchanged.

[SMM Express] Recent developments across South Africa's Bushveld Complex indicate that operational optimization, rather than new mine development, is becoming an increasingly important driver of chrome production growth. As producers seek to maximize value from existing UG2 ore bodies, investments are increasingly focused on improving mining efficiencies, processing performance and chromite recovery to increase chrome output while strengthening overall project economics. Northam Platinum recently achieved a record 1.69 million mt of chrome concentrate production in FY2026, supported by higher UG2 throughput, expanded mining crews and processing improvements at its Eland mine. Similarly, Sibanye-Stillwater has outlined plans to increase chrome production to approximately 2.3 million mt/y by 2033 through optimization of its existing operations, while Southern Palladium's Bengwenyama Definitive Feasibility Study increased projected chrome concentrate output to more than 1.05 million mt/y after improving chromite recovery from 30% to 85.6%. SMM believes these developments highlight a broader industry trend in which producers are unlocking additional chrome supply through operational and metallurgical improvements, positioning chrome as an increasingly important contributor to earnings and long-term project value amid continued pressure on PGM markets.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] PT Cita Mineral Investindo (CITA) reported a 36.9% year-on-year increase in net sales to IDR 1.91 trillion in the first half of 2026, driven by stronger bauxite sales, while net cash from operating activities rose 33.1% to IDR 428.0 billion. However, net profit attributable to shareholders fell 62.1% to IDR 625.8 billion, primarily due to lower earnings from its 12.5% stake in PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery (WHWAR). CITA continued expanding its downstream aluminium investments during the period, injecting an additional IDR 99.1 billion into WHWAR to maintain its 12.5% interest, while retaining a 16% stake in PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry (KAI). As of 30 June 2026, the company's investments in WHWAR, KAI and related downstream projects accounted for nearly 40% of total assets, highlighting its growing exposure to Indonesia's alumina and aluminium value chain.