Copper

LUSAKA — Zambia has attracted nearly $10 billion in mining investment commitments since 2021, yet the country’s copper output has expanded by just 90,000 metric tons over the same period, underscoring the formidable execution challenges facing Africa’s second-largest producer of the metal. The gap between pledged capital and physical output …

LUSAKA — Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term in an election that presents a critical test of whether his administration’s market-friendly economic reforms can deliver tangible relief to ordinary citizens amid record high copper prices. Since sweeping into power in 2021 after a sovereign debt default, Hichilema …

Zambians go to the polls on August 13 in presidential and parliamentary elections, with financial markets and opinion polls widely expecting incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema to secure a second term against an opposition led by Brian Mundubile. Having successfully guided the southern African nation through a grueling sovereign debt restructuring, …

In its latest report, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has reinforced its central role in Zambia’s copper economy, reporting a $3.46 billion contribution in 2025, highlighting how mining continues to anchor national growth and industrial activity. The contribution spans taxes, royalties, wages, procurement and community investment, reflecting a deeply embedded economic …

Zambia’s ambitious plan to more than triple its annual copper production to three million tonnes by 2031 is setting off an exploration rush, drawing global engineering firms keen to manage the technical and environmental risks of massive new operations. The expansion strategy is supported by an aggressive regulatory and infrastructure …

Zambia’s push to scale up copper production is facing fresh pressure as planned shutdowns at key smelters threaten to ripple across both output and critical chemical supplies. Two of the country’s largest smelters of operations linked to Mopani Copper Mines and Chambishi, are preparing for extended maintenance outages later this …

Zambia is stepping into a new phase of its copper expansion strategy, with the US$300 million Mingomba Mine set to break ground on 29 April  2026. The project, led by KoBold Metals, is expected to become a key contributor to the country’s long-term production goals, with planned output of up …

LUSAKA – Zambia has launched a high-stakes diplomatic and economic offensive to more than triple its copper production to three million tonnes by 2031, positioning itself as a cornerstone of the global green energy transition. The ambitious target, revealed by Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe, comes as the world’s leading economies …

Zambia’s Copperbelt is firmly back in business. A rebound in mining activity and renewed investment momentum are once again positioning the province as one of Africa’s most compelling resource destinations. Addressing stakeholders at the Team Sweden Mining Indaba Cocktail Reception during the African Mining Indaba side event, Copperbelt Provincial Minister …

By: Nkosilathi Mudiyi Zambia’s mining sector is entering a period of aggressive expansion, with national copper production poised to breach the historic one-million-tonne threshold by the end of 2025. This surge follows a robust performance in 2024, where output climbed 12% to 820,676 tonnes, signalling a decisive recovery for the …