Zambia is on course to achieve its target of producing three million metric tonnes of copper annually by 2031, the government said on Thursday, citing reforms in the mining sector, renewed investment and the revival of key mining assets.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Hapenga Kabeta said the target was attainable due to what he described as progressive policy and regulatory reforms aimed at restoring investor confidence and boosting production.
“We are determined to achieve the three million metric tonnes of copper production target by 2031,” Kabeta said, according to state media.
Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, has made increased output a cornerstone of its economic strategy as global demand for the metal rises, driven by the energy transition, electric vehicles and renewable technologies.
Kabeta said the reopening of previously dormant mines, expansion projects by existing operators and new investment commitments would all contribute to higher production levels. Increased copper output, he added, would play a critical role in supporting economic growth and fiscal stability.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Kincso Vizi, a project administrator at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), who paid a courtesy call on him in Lusaka.
The government has also renewed its push for value addition in the mining sector, seeking to reduce reliance on exports of unprocessed minerals. Kabeta said exporting raw minerals limited the economic benefits Zambia could derive from its vast natural resources.
“The practice of exporting minerals in their raw form is no longer sustainable. We want value addition to take place locally,” he said.
Zambia has been seeking to attract investment into downstream industries such as smelting, refining and manufacturing, as part of efforts to create jobs and retain more value within the economy.
UNIDO said it would support the government’s ambitions by helping identify policy and regulatory gaps, particularly in environmental management. Vizi said the agency would assist Zambia in monitoring and reducing mercury emissions from copper smelting and in promoting investment in best available and cleaner technologies.
She reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s mining development agenda and the attainment of the 2031 production goal.
The meeting was also attended by officials from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), reflecting growing emphasis on balancing higher output with environmental sustainability.
Copper accounts for the bulk of Zambia’s export earnings and remains central to the country’s long-term growth strategy as it seeks to capitalise on rising global demand.
