FQM Named Zambia’s Best Mining Investor at Inaugural IZIC Conference
First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has been honoured as Zambia’s Best Investor in Mining – 2025 during the inaugural Invest Zambia International Conference (IZIC), held in Lusaka. The prestigious award recognises FQM’s enduring contribution to Zambia’s mining sector and its role in fostering long-term economic growth.
The conference, themed “Driving Generational Transformative Investments through Joint Ventures and Partnerships,” attracted a diverse gathering of investors, policymakers, and business leaders from across the globe, all focused on tapping into Zambia’s investment potential.
Receiving the award, FQM Country Manager Dr Godwin Beene said the event’s theme reflected Zambia’s current developmental trajectory.
“It’s about time that we began to think of Zambia in the long term… in a sustainable, collaborative way that fuels inclusive growth,” Dr Beene stated.
He highlighted FQM’s nearly 30-year investment legacy in Zambia, beginning with the Bwana Mkubwa project and expanding to include the Trident project and the recent $1.25 billion S3 expansion at the Kansanshi Mine. The expansion is expected to extend the mine’s life to 2046 and significantly boost annual copper output.
Dr Beene emphasized that FQM’s commitment extends beyond mining. “We believe Zambia is a strategic partner in shaping the future of critical industries,” he said, noting FQM’s initiatives in value addition, skills development, and inclusive growth—key principles echoed throughout the conference.
The company’s diversified projects include the Enterprise nickel mine, a move that underscores its broader commitment to economic transformation.
Minister of Technology and Science Hon. Felix Mutati, also present at the event, praised the role of the private sector in Zambia’s growth.
“We have enacted structural reforms to create a stable macroeconomic environment and promote value addition and export growth,” he said.
Mutati reaffirmed the government’s support for private-sector-led development, describing it as a vital engine for national progress.
