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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 footprint. Notably, $902 million was paid directly to government through taxes, while an additional $63.4 million in royalties was channelled to ZCCM Investments Holdings, noting the sector’s importance to public revenues.
Beyond fiscal contributions, the company’s operations demonstrate strong local integration. More than 12,000 employees and 11,500 contractors were engaged during the year, alongside procurement spend of $2.14 billion with over 1,500 Zambian suppliers. This level of localisation continues to position mining as a key driver of enterprise development and job creation across the country.
“Completion and commissioning of FQM’s Kansanshi S3 expansion project, in Solwezi, represented a major milestone, reinforcing the long-term contribution of Kansanshi to copper production, employment and government revenues,” said Anthony Mukutuma, Country Director, FQM Zambia.
Together with operations in Kalumbila, these assets form the backbone of FQM’s Zambian portfolio. The company also contributed $389 million in salaries and wages, alongside more than $23 million in community development initiatives, ranging from infrastructure to social programmes. Additional payments to local authorities like councils in Kalumbila and Solwezi, further illustrate the multi-layered economic impact at both national and municipal levels.
Mukutuma further noted that transparency remains central to the company’s approach, with the report aligned to international frameworks including Canada’s Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act. As Zambia intensifies efforts to scale copper production and capture greater value from its resources, contributions of this magnitude highlight the sector’s catalytic role. Mining is not only a source of export revenue, it is a critical engine for employment, supply chain development and fiscal stability.
In a global context of rising copper demand driven by electrification and clean energy, Zambia’s ability to leverage partnerships with major operators like FQM will remain key. The $3.46 billion contribution is therefore more than a financial figure, it is a reflection of how deeply copper mining is intertwined with the country’s economic trajectory.
