Zambia sees copper production down at 800,000 tonnes in 2021

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's copper production is expected to reduce to 800,000 tonnes by end of this year from 868,671 tonnes last year, Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe said in a statement on Wednesday.

Copper output in Africa's No.2 producer of the metal dropped to 593,500 tonnes between January and September 2021 from 623,816 tonnes in the corresponding period of last year, Kabuswe said.

"The decrease is due to operational challenges at Kalumbila, Lumwana and Lubambe mine," Kabuswe said.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Promit Mukherjee)