Zambia Launches Timbuktoo MineTech Hub to Drive Innovation and Sustainable Mining
Zambia Unveils Timbuktoo MineTech Hub to Accelerate Mining Innovation and Economic Transformation
Zambia has taken a significant step toward technology-led economic transformation with the official launch of the Timbuktoo MineTech Hub, a collaborative initiative involving the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), First Quantum Minerals (FQM), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Launched in Lusaka on Friday, the MineTech Hub represents a strategic public–private partnership designed to position Zambia as a regional centre for mining innovation, sustainable resource development, and industrialisation.
The initiative is supported under UNDP’s Timbuktoo programme, which aims to unlock African-led and youth-driven innovation across the continent.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Technology and Science Felix Chipota Mutati said hosting the MineTech Hub in Zambia reflects growing confidence in the country’s mining sector and its broader innovation ecosystem.
He noted that recent fiscal, regulatory, and institutional reforms have helped restore investor confidence, resulting in more than $7-billion in mining investments over the past four years — the highest level recorded in Zambia’s history.
Mutati added that strengthened local content policies have increased citizen participation in the mining value chain, while Zambia’s successful debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework has repositioned the country as an attractive investment destination.
He said the MineTech Hub will play a critical role in supporting Zambia’s ambition to increase copper production to three-million tonnes a year by anchoring innovation in real-world mining challenges and deploying advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and 5G connectivity.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, Engineer Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, said modern mining is becoming increasingly complex as ore grades decline, making precision, efficiency, and innovation essential to maintaining competitiveness.
He stressed that the adoption of emerging technologies is no longer optional if Zambia is to achieve its production, sustainability, and development targets.
UNDP Resident Representative Dr James Wakiaga described the launch of the Hub, alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as a strong example of effective public–private collaboration in support of sustainable development.
He said the Hub will help convert innovative ideas into scalable enterprises within the mining ecosystem, while empowering young people to drive long-term value creation.
First Quantum Minerals country representative Anthony Mukutuma highlighted the company’s long-standing growth in Zambia, noting that copper production has increased from about 10,000 tonnes in 1996 to nearly 800,000 tonnes today.
He said achieving Zambia’s three-million-tonne copper production target will require the deployment of advanced technologies, automation, and innovation to improve safety, productivity, and operational efficiency.
A Memorandum of Understanding to promote technological and scientific innovation and sustainable mining practices in Zambia was signed at the event, marking a milestone in the country’s mining and innovation journey.
