Considering the severe drought currently being experienced in Zambia, the water pumped out of the project will be beneficial to agricultural irrigation and electricity generation.

Luanshya New Mine is a "milestone event" in the high-quality development of the company, said Wang Jingjun, chairman of CLM. With a total investment of $500 million, the project is expected to be put into operation by 2028, with a designed annual production of 43,000 tons of copper concentrate and a service life of 20 years.

Upon completion, the project will provide some 3,000 jobs, and greatly promote the socioeconomic prosperity of the local area and the nation, Wang said.