The Zambian government aims to more than triple annual copper production to three million metric tonnes by 2031, a move that would place the country at the centre of the global supply chain for critical minerals used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.
According to Zambia’s Mines Minister, Paul Kabuswe, the country is actively courting international investors, including partners from the United States, as part of a broader strategy to expand the mining sector and unlock billions of dollars in new investment. “It has to be a win-win situation for Zambia and for the investors,” Kabuswe said while discussing negotiations with potential partners.
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Zambia remains one of the world’s most important copper producers. In 2025, the country produced 890,346 metric tonnes, marking an 8 per cent increase from 2024 and the second consecutive year of growth.
Despite this progress, production still fell short of the government’s one-million-tonne milestone target, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead. The sector continues to play a central role in the economy, accounting for roughly 15 per cent of GDP and generating more than 70 per cent of export revenue.
The production increase was led by Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines, with the latter achieving a fourfold rise in output to over 80,000 tonnes. Other major players in Zambia’s mining sector include First Quantum Minerals, Vedanta Resources, and Barrick Gold. The government has now set its sights on a more ambitious objective: three million tonnes per year by 2031, a milestone that would elevate Zambia among the world’s leading copper producers.
Copper’s global importance underpins Zambia’s strategic ambitions. As a critical mineral for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and power transmission, demand is expected to surge as the global clean energy transition accelerates. This positions Zambia’s expansion plans not only as a national priority but also as a matter of strategic significance for global supply chains seeking reliable sources of the metal.
Zambia’s relationship with copper spans nearly a century. From colonial-era expansion in the 1920s to post-independence prosperity, when the country produced around 12 per cent of the world’s copper, the sector has remained central to national development. However, nationalisation between 1969 and the 1990s led to a sharp decline in output due to underinvestment and falling global prices, with production dropping to about 250,000 tonnes by 2000. Privatisation in the early 2000s, coupled with rising demand from China, later triggered a strong recovery and opened new mining frontiers in the North-Western Province.
Today, Zambia is pursuing an ambitious strategy to reach three million tonnes annually by 2031. Key priorities include reviving major mines such as Konkola and Mopani, expanding exploration following a major discovery by KoBold Metals, and attracting investment from the United States, China, and Europe. Beyond increasing output, Zambia also aims to integrate into regional battery value chains alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Significant challenges remain, including energy shortages, infrastructure bottlenecks, environmental concerns, and exposure to volatile copper prices. However, if the strategy succeeds, Zambia’s mining expansion could reshape its economic trajectory and position the country as a leading supplier in the global clean energy economy.
