Zijin Mining completes Julong Copper Mine Phase II expansion
2026-01-26 13:46:37 [Print]
On January 23, Zijin Mining announced that the Phase II expansion project at its Julong Copper Mine has been completed and officially entered operation. The expansion adds 200,000 tonnes per day of new capacity to the mine's existing 150,000 tonnes per day, lifting total mining and processing capacity to 350,000 tonnes per day. Julong is now China's largest copper mine and the world's highest-altitude ultra-large copper operation.
With Phase II ramping up, Julong's annual ore throughput will increase from 45 million tonnes to more than 105 million tonnes. Annual mined copper output is expected to rise from 190,000 tonnes in 2025 to around 300,000-350,000 tonnes, with copper production forecast to reach approximately 300,000 tonnes in 2026. Annual molybdenum output is expected to increase from 8,000 tonnes in 2025 to about 13,000 tonnes.
Zijin Mining is also planning a Phase III expansion. If approved, the project would further expand Julong's mineable copper resources to over 20 million tonnes and raise annual ore processing capacity to around 200 million tonnes, potentially making it the world's largest copper mine by production scale, with annual copper output approaching 600,000 tonnes.
According to resource data filed in 2024, Julong Copper Mine has identified copper resources of 25.88 million tonnes, along with associated molybdenum resources of 1.67 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.019%.
With Phase II ramping up, Julong's annual ore throughput will increase from 45 million tonnes to more than 105 million tonnes. Annual mined copper output is expected to rise from 190,000 tonnes in 2025 to around 300,000-350,000 tonnes, with copper production forecast to reach approximately 300,000 tonnes in 2026. Annual molybdenum output is expected to increase from 8,000 tonnes in 2025 to about 13,000 tonnes.
Zijin Mining is also planning a Phase III expansion. If approved, the project would further expand Julong's mineable copper resources to over 20 million tonnes and raise annual ore processing capacity to around 200 million tonnes, potentially making it the world's largest copper mine by production scale, with annual copper output approaching 600,000 tonnes.
According to resource data filed in 2024, Julong Copper Mine has identified copper resources of 25.88 million tonnes, along with associated molybdenum resources of 1.67 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.019%.
Molybdenum Conc. 45%min EXW China
Unit:RMB/dmtu
China molybdenum concentrate producers' number MoM output increase statistics by province by month
Unit: pcs
