Zambia’s Copper Production Set to Surge by 2027
Zambia’s annual copper production is projected to grow by more than 40% to reach 1 million tons by 2027, according to the country’s Finance Ministry.
As Africa’s second-largest copper producer, Zambia aims to capitalize on the anticipated supply shortfall driven by the energy transition, which is increasing demand for copper in electric vehicles and wind farms.
In 2023, Zambia’s copper output fell to a 14-year low of 698,566 tons due to frequent tax changes and conflicts with the previous government.
However, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning’s medium-term budget plan, published on Sunday, forecasts annual production increases from 2025 to 2027.
This growth depends on resolving issues at major mines, launching greenfield projects, and expanding existing facilities.
The southern African nation, which derives about 70% of its export earnings from copper, also plans to map more of its landmass for mineral resources through integrated geophysical, geological, and satellite imagery surveys. Zambia aims to more than quadruple its copper output to 3 million tons by 2031.
