Zambia Targets EV and Battery Manufacturing to Capture More Value From Critical Minerals
Zambia Pursues Investment in EV and Battery Manufacturing to Drive Industrial Growth and Mineral Value Addition
Zambia is intensifying efforts to attract investment into electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, battery production and mineral processing as the country seeks to move beyond raw mineral exports and build a stronger, value-added industrial economy.
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says the country’s abundant mineral resources position it well to benefit from growing global demand for battery metals and clean energy technologies.
The agency believes greater investment in downstream industries could help create jobs, expand industrial capacity and generate higher economic returns from Zambia’s mining sector.
Speaking during the CEO Roundtable at the Zambia Mining Insaka, held under the theme “Africa’s Mining at a Crossroads: Strategic Priorities in the Next Decade,” ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa said Zambia must prioritize value addition if it is to maximize the benefits of its mineral wealth.
Halwampa noted that while mining remains a key pillar of the economy, the country should focus on developing domestic manufacturing and processing capabilities that create higher-value products from locally mined minerals.
Such an approach, he said, would generate employment opportunities, stimulate industrial growth and strengthen Zambia’s economic resilience.
He highlighted the strategic importance of the Lobito Corridor as a trade and logistics route but stressed that Zambia must determine which value-added products it wants to export through the corridor.
According to Halwampa, the country should not limit itself to exporting copper cathodes but instead explore opportunities to manufacture EV batteries, battery components and even assembled electric vehicles.
He said attracting investors to establish processing and manufacturing facilities near sources of raw materials would help build stronger domestic supply chains and enhance Zambia’s competitiveness.
The ZDA chief also emphasized that policy consistency remains critical for attracting long-term investment. Investors, he noted, require a stable and predictable business environment when making decisions about establishing manufacturing operations.
Beyond the mining sector, the development of downstream industries could create significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises by increasing demand for locally supplied goods and services.
Halwampa said copper has the potential to serve as a catalyst for broader industrialization if stronger links are established between extraction, processing and manufacturing.
He further identified nickel, manganese and lithium as strategic minerals that could support Zambia’s ambitions in battery production and electric mobility, given their importance in energy storage technologies and the global transition toward cleaner transportation systems.
As competition for investment in the battery and EV value chain intensifies globally, Zambia is positioning itself to leverage its mineral resources to develop processing and manufacturing industries that can create skilled jobs, strengthen local value chains and drive long-term economic growth.
