Zambia’s Copper Industry Records Strong Growth as Production Approaches One Million Tons 21 Copper Economy Mining in Zambia News in Brief 

Zambia’s Copper Industry Records Strong Growth as Production Approaches One Million Tons

Zambia’s Copper Export Earnings Surge 31% in October 2025 as Output Nears Historic Peak Zambia’s copper sector posted impressive results in October 2025, with export earnings from refined copper rising by 31.2% to K20.8 billion, up from K15.0 billion in September. The sharp monthly increase reflects sustained growth in national copper output as the country moves closer to surpassing one million tons of annual production—a milestone not reached in recent years. This rebound comes amid firm global copper prices and growing international demand, driven by the expansion of renewable energy… Read More Here
Kafue Gorge Lower Solar Project Marks Major Step Toward Zambia’s Clean Energy Future 22 Mining in Zambia Energy 

Kafue Gorge Lower Solar Project Marks Major Step Toward Zambia’s Clean Energy Future

Zambia Breaks Ground on Kafue Gorge Lower 100MW Solar Project to Boost National Energy Security Zambia’s ambition to strengthen long-term energy security has received a major boost with the groundbreaking of the Kafue Gorge Lower 100MW Solar Project in Sikoongo Chiefdom, Chirundu District, Southern Province. The initiative features a 100MW solar power plant, a 33/330kV substation, and a 15-kilometre transmission line connecting the facility to the Kafue Gorge Upper grid. Construction is expected to be completed within 12 months. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, ZESCO Managing Director Eng. Justin Loongo… Read More Here
Mercuria Moves to Withdraw $500 Million in Copper Amid Looming Global Shortages 23 International Copper Corporate News 

Mercuria Moves to Withdraw $500 Million in Copper Amid Looming Global Shortages

Mercuria Orders $500M Copper Withdrawal from LME as US Tariff Threat Fuels Global Supply Crunch Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. has ordered roughly $500 million worth of copper for withdrawal from warehouses supervised by the London Metal Exchange (LME), positioning itself ahead of a possible global supply squeeze driven by looming US tariffs. According to people familiar with the matter, Mercuria was the primary party behind requests to withdraw about 50,000 tons of copper from LME depots on Wednesday. The cancellations mark the largest removal of LME copper inventories in more… Read More Here
FQM Hands Major Mining Operations to Local Contractor Mineral Link in Zambia 24 Mining in Zambia Corporate News Mining Equipment 

FQM Hands Major Mining Operations to Local Contractor Mineral Link in Zambia

FQM Boosts Zambia Mining Local Content by Awarding Major Load-and-Haul Contract to Mineral Link First Quantum Minerals (FQM), through its subsidiary FQM Trident Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to Zambia’s socio-economic development by expanding opportunities for local businesses and transferring key operational responsibilities to the Zambian-owned contractor Mineral Link Limited. This partnership signals a significant evolution in Zambia’s mining sector, shifting from traditional service provision to full contract mining. Mineral Link, a second-generation family business based in Chingola, will now manage enterprise load-and-haul operations previously handled internally by FQM. According… Read More Here
Mercuria and Gécamines Launch Copper and Cobalt Trading Venture in the DRC 25 Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper Corporate News 

Mercuria and Gécamines Launch Copper and Cobalt Trading Venture in the DRC

New Mercuria–Gécamines Joint Venture Aims to Boost Copper and Cobalt Exports from the DRC Mercuria Energy Trading has launched a metals-trading joint venture with Gécamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned mining company, to market copper and cobalt acquired through Gécamines’ equity stakes in local mining projects. According to Kostas Bintas, head of metals at Mercuria Energy Group, the venture could eventually market more than 500,000 tons of copper cathodes per year, in addition to substantial volumes of cobalt. The agreement coincides with recent cooperation between the United States and… Read More Here
U.S. Considers Over $1 Billion for Critical Minerals and Railway Projects in Central Africa 26 Copper Battery Metals Cobalt Mining in DRC 

U.S. Considers Over $1 Billion for Critical Minerals and Railway Projects in Central Africa

U.S. Advances Funding Talks for Mineral and Rail Projects in Central Africa The United States is in talks to provide more than $1 billion in support for two major initiatives in Central Africa, as Washington seeks to secure supplies of minerals considered essential for national security. According to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the agency plans to back a new copper and cobalt partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Gécamines and Switzerland’s Mercuria Energy Trading, along with a railway project connecting the DRC and several Central and… Read More Here
Macron Welcomes DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement Signed in Washington 27 Mining in DRC Governance 

Macron Welcomes DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement Signed in Washington

French President Macron Commends New DRC–Rwanda Peace Agreement and Urges Lasting Commitment French President Emmanuel Macron reacted publicly to the peace agreement signed in Washington on December 4, 2025, between the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame. The accord was concluded with the support of international partners and under the auspices of the United States. In a message posted on his official account, the French Head of State welcomed “a step forward made possible by the commitment of the parties,” while… Read More Here
President Tshisekedi and IMF Chief Discuss Reforms and Economic Stability in Washington 28 Mining in DRC Economy Governance 

President Tshisekedi and IMF Chief Discuss Reforms and Economic Stability in Washington

IMF Hails Reform Commitments After Meeting With President Tshisekedi in Washington During a working visit to the United States, President Félix Tshisekedi met on Thursday, December 4, 2025, with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The talks, described as a “fruitful exchange,” focused on the progress of the current economic program and the structural challenges facing the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the head of the IMF, President Tshisekedi reaffirmed his determination to strengthen macroeconomic resilience, despite a difficult international environment and internal pressures linked to… Read More Here
ARSP Director Praises Diplomacy Behind New DRC–Rwanda Agreement 29 Mining in DRC Governance 

ARSP Director Praises Diplomacy Behind New DRC–Rwanda Agreement

DRC–Rwanda Peace and Economic Agreement Welcomed by ARSP Director Miguel Kashal Miguel Kashal, Director General of the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), followed from his office the ceremony marking the ratification of the recent peace and economic agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. On this occasion, he commended what he described as the active diplomacy of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, which, according to him, helped pave the way for a new phase of dialogue between Kinshasa and Kigali after decades of conflict in eastern… Read More Here
DRC Showcases Strategic Move Behind Manono Lithium Agreement in Washington 30 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Lithium 

DRC Showcases Strategic Move Behind Manono Lithium Agreement in Washington

How the DRC Secured the Manono Lithium Deal: Governor Wameso Details Strategy in Washington In Washington, Governor André Wameso presented the strategy that enabled the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure control over the development of lithium in Manono, one of the country’s most promising mineral reserves. According to Wameso, the U.S.-based company KoBold Metals played a decisive role during the due-diligence phase requested by the U.S. government before approving any strategic cooperation with the DRC. He explained that the country had been engaged in an arbitration dispute with AVZ.… Read More Here

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