Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd (LMEL) has commenced commercial production of copper cathodes from its 12,000-tonnes-per-annum processing plant located in the Katanga Copper Belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking the company’s entry into the global copper value chain.
The first copper cathodes have been successfully produced at the facility, confirming the operational readiness of the plant and signalling the start of commercial operations, the company said.
The project is operated through a subsidiary in which LMEL holds a 50% in a copper mining and processing platform in the DRC.
The platform includes 16 mining licences covering nearly 100 sq. km in the Katanga Copper Belt, along with a 12,000 tonnes per annum solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) copper cathode plant, which is now operational.
The deposits in the region contain high-grade oxide copper ore, enabling efficient processing through the SX-EW route. The project combines ready infrastructure, high-grade resources and operational expertise, allowing the company to pursue a disciplined scale-up of production.
The commencement of copper cathode production represents a key milestone in LMEL’s strategy to diversify its metals portfolio and establish a presence in critical minerals.
Production ramp-up
Lloyd Metals expects production to increase progressively as mining activities stabilise and ore supply improves.
LMEL has projected copper cathode output of 10,000–12,000 tonnes in calendar year 2026, rising to around 15,000 tonnes in 2027.
Over the medium term, the platform has a defined expansion pathway to scale up capacity to about 30,000 tonnes per annum, supported by increasing captive ore supply from the mining licences in the Katanga region.
The development also positions LMEL to participate in the rapidly expanding demand for copper globally, driven by electrification, renewable energy infrastructure and the growth of electric mobility.
With established mining licences, processing infrastructure already in place and a clear expansion roadmap, the DRC project strengthens Lloyds Metals’ long-term strategy of building a scalable presence in the global copper sector.