Mopani Copper Mines Reaffirms Domestic Processing Strategy as Zambia Grants Copper Export Quotas
Zambia Waives Copper Export Duty as Mopani and Miners Retain Concentrate for Domestic Processing
The Zambian subsidiary of Abu Dhabi–based International Resources Holding (IRH) does not intend to export copper concentrate despite receiving one of the largest allocations under a government export waiver.
Mopani Copper Mines stated that its position remains unchanged since July, when the first exemptions were introduced.
At that time, the company confirmed it had “no plan to export any part” of its allocated quota, instead prioritizing its own processing operations in line with a long-term strategy to strengthen domestic refining capacity.
On June 2, the Zambian government suspended a 10% export duty on nearly 272,000 tons of copper concentrate, allowing shipments through the state-owned Industrial Resources Ltd. over the next three months.
Industrial Resources Ltd. maintains a metals trading partnership with Mercuria Energy Group.
Under the allocation, Mopani is entitled to export up to 100,000 tons of copper concentrate. Other major producers, including operations owned by Barrick Mining Corp. and First Quantum Minerals Ltd., have also been granted similar combined quotas.
Mopani received comparable allocations during previous waiver periods over the past year.
IRH, part of a major conglomerate controlled by UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in early 2024.
The export duty is typically designed to encourage local processing of copper concentrate at Zambia’s four operational smelters, one of which is operated by Mopani. However, temporary exemptions are granted when domestic smelting capacity becomes constrained.
The government’s latest decision follows operational disruptions in the sector, including a planned 60-day maintenance shutdown announced by Konkola Copper Mines on May 29.
Mopani has consistently emphasized that its priority remains to process all available concentrate domestically, reinforcing Zambia’s broader policy objective of increasing local value addition in the copper industry.
