First Quantum kicks off commercial production at Enterprise mine

First Quantum Minerals has commenced commercial production at Enterprise mine in Zambia.  The move positions it to become Africa’s largest nickel operation and aiding Zambia’s ambition to become a major supplier of battery metals.

CEO Tristan Pascall confirmed the report and said the firm has adjusted its 2024 production guidance to 17,000-20,000 tonnes of nickel, up from the previous estimate of 10,000-20,000 tonnes, reflecting strong year-to-date performance.

Enterprise mine

Enterprise is an open-pit nickel mine located in the Kalumbila district of North Western Province in Zambia. The project is owned and operated by Kalumbila Minerals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian metals and mining company First Quantum Minerals. The Enterprise nickel mine forms part of the larger Trident project that was originally undertaken by Kiwara.

The deposit area contains basement schists overlain by Neoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks. Nickel sulfides are hosted within a sequence of quartz-, carbonate-, and carbon-rich metasedimentary rocks that interfinger with and overlie siliciclastic metasedimentary rocks. The host rocks contain significant kyanite, talc, and magnesian chlorite. Silicification and magnesian metasomatism occurred prior to or concurrent with a regional metamorphic event (590-500 Ma). Mineralization resulted in the precipitation of nickel and iron-nickel sulfides in veins and as semimassive replacements of the host rocks.

CEO Tristan also noted that both the Kansanshi and Sentinel mines are well-positioned for the rest of the year. He also mentioned the progress of the S3 Expansion at Kansanshi, which is on schedule for completion by mid-2025. At full capacity, the Enterprise mine is expected to become a top-ten global nickel producer, with an annual output of around 30,000 tonnes of nickel concentrate and over 900 full-time employees.