Zambia Pushes Mining Expansion Beyond Copper

Zambia’s mining sector is showing renewed momentum in 2026, supported by increased investor confidence, mine recapitalisation and expansion projects.

In the first quarter of 2026, large-scale mine production recorded growth, although overall copper output declined by about 4.3 percent due to operational disruptions in some mines.

Despite this, the sector continues to remain a major contributor to export earnings, foreign exchange generation, employment and government revenue.

Copper remains Zambia’s dominant mineral, accounting for over 70 percent of export earnings, while government is also promoting diversification into cobalt, nickel, lithium and gold to benefit from rising global demand for energy transition minerals.

However, challenges such as electricity shortages, high production costs and global commodity price volatility continue to affect expansion.

Sustaining growth will require stable policies, increased energy investment, stronger infrastructure and local value addition to ensure mining contributes more effectively to long-term economic development.