Copper
Copper
copper
Applications
  • Power Grid
    Power Grid
  • Battery
    Battery
  • Renewable Energy
    Renewable Energy
  • Interconnected World
    Interconnected World
  • Electric Vehicles
    Electric Vehicles
Changing the future
  • In the energy revolution pioneered by electrification to replace the internal combustion engines, metal materials are very important to the global decarbonization drive. Copper, the most cost-effective conductor, will become the key metal to the green energy revolution, electrification and intelligent transformation. It holds a strategic place in energy transformation and upgrading.
  • Electric vehicles use four times as much copper as petrol-based vehicles.
  • Over 70% of the world’s copper is used for power transmission.
  • Renewable energy technologies use four to five times more copper than fossil fuels to generate electricity.
Zijin Mining has become the world’s fastest growing company in the copper mining sector.
Zijin Mining has become the world’s fastest growing company in the copper mining sector.
Production capacity
53%
Overseas mined-copper production as a share of the Group's total volume
76%
Overseas copper reserve as a share of the Group's total reserve
Business

Highlight: In 2021, three world-class, ultra-large copper mines, namely the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine in the DR Congo, the Čukaru Peki Copper and Gold Mine in Serbia and the Julong Copper Mine in Tibet (China’s largest porphyry copper mine), completed construction and commenced production ahead of schedule.

According to China Mineral Resources Report 2021 prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the PRC, China’s copper reserves were 27.013 million tonnes, while the copper reserves of the Group were 20.3283 million tonnes, representing approximately 75.25% of the total volume in China. In accordance with the statistics disclosed by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, China’s mined copper production volume in 2021 was 1.8547 million tonnes, while the Group’s mined copper production volume was 584,000 tonnes, representing approximately 31.49% of the total volume in China.

◎ Resources: Copper resources continue to grow, reaching 62.7705 million tonnes; and copper reserves stood at 20.3283 million tonnes.

◎ Production: The Group produced 1,205,499 tonnes of copper in 2021, representing an increase of 17.14% year-on-year (same period in 2020: 1,029,090 tonnes).

Of which, 584,165 tonnes of mined copper were produced, representing an increase of 28.83% compared with the same period last year (same period last year: 453,447 tonnes).

621,334 tonnes of copper were produced by our smelters, an increase of 7.94% year-on-year (same period in 2020: 575,643 tonnes).

◎ Costs: We have a comparative advantage in controlling the costs of mine-produced copper. In 2021, the unit sales cost of mined copper was RMB18,194/tonne, representing a decrease of 9.46% year-on-year (same period in 2020: RMB20,095/tonne).

◎ Contribution: Sales income from the copper business represented 24.28% (after offsets) of the total operating income during the reporting period. Gross profit of the copper business represented 52.63% of the gross profit of the Group.

◎ Growth potential: The Group is the world’s top major copper mining company in terms of speed of growth and volume. Several world-class projects have completed construction, commenced production and reached designated production capacity. Rich resources have become the direct driving force for the high growth of copper business. With future mergers and acquisitions and in-house exploration, resources and reserves are expected to continue to grow.


Cu

Main Companies or Mines

Name

Equity interest held by the Group

Mined copper(tonnes)

Attributable copper production(tonnes)

Remark

Kolwezi Copper Mine in the DRC

72%

121,072

87,172

Including: 59,928 tonnes of electrodeposited copper

Duobaoshan Copper in Heilongjiang

100%

109,490

109,490


Zijinshan Gold and Copper Mine in Fujian

100%

85,061

85,061

Including: 21,592 tonnes of electrodeposited copper

Serbia Zijin Copper

63%

66,031

41,599

Including: 58,344 tonnes of electrolytic copper

Serbia Zijin Mining

100%

55,119

55,119


Kamoa Copper (on an attributable  basis)

39.6%

41,930

41,930

The Group also holds a 13.67% equity interest in Ivanhoe Mines, taking its total attributable copper production at Kamoa Copper to 47,662 tonnes.

Ashele Copper in Xinjiang

51%

45,124

23,013


Bisha Mining in Eritrea

55%

20,224

11,123


Hunchun Zijin in Jilin

100%

13,338

13,338


Julong Copper

50.1%

15,690

7,861


Total of other mines

11,086

9,037


Total

584,165

484,743



Cu

Major smelting companies

Name

Equity interest held by the Group

Copper produced by smelters (tonnes)

Attributable copper produced by smelters (tonnes)

Zijin Copper

100%

345,284

345,284

Jilin Zijin Copper

100%

110,767

110,767

Heilongjiang Zijin Copper

100%

155,005

155,005

Serbia Zijin Copper

63%

7,317

4,609

Other copper smelters

2,961

2,388

Total

621,334

618,053


Assets
Other Main Products