Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd has announced the start of commercial production of copper cathodes at its 12,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) copper processing plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This development marks the company’s entry into the global copper value chain.
The copper plant is located in the Katanga Copper Belt, one of the world’s richest copper mining regions. The company confirmed that the first copper cathodes have been successfully produced, indicating that the facility is now fully operational and ready for commercial production
Lloyds Metals holds a 50% stake in the copper mining and processing platform in the DRC, which includes 16 mining licences covering around 100 square kilometres in the mineral-rich region. The project also includes high-grade oxide copper deposits that allow efficient SX-EW (solvent extraction and electrowinning) processing.
The company expects the production to gradually ramp up as mining and ore supply stabilise. According to the company’s projections, the facility could produce about 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes of copper cathodes in 2026 and around 15,000 tonnes in 2027.
Over the medium term, Lloyds Metals plans to expand the plant’s capacity to around 30,000 tonnes per year, supported by increased captive ore supply from its mining licences. The project is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its metals portfolio and build a strong presence in critical minerals used in electrification, renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Copper demand is expected to grow globally due to rapid expansion in renewable energy infrastructure, electric mobility and power transmission, and the new project positions Lloyds Metals to benefit from this long-term trend.
Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd (NSE: LLOYDSME | BSE: 512455) was trading around ₹1,139.00 on March 16, 2026, slightly down by ₹1.80 (0.16%) from the previous close of ₹1,140.80. The company’s market capitalization stands at about ₹62,020 crore.
