Mines Ministry says existing copper mines alone cannot deliver the three-million-tonne target

Expanding production at existing mines will not on its own let Zambia reach its target of three million tonnes of copper a year by 2031, and a large share of the growth has to come from new mining projects, including greenfield developments, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has said. Permanent Secretary Dr Hapenga Kabeta made the remarks on Thursday 22 October at the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka. Dr Kabeta said exploration is the foundation of Zambia's future copper production. The national aerial geophysical survey, which maps what lies under the ground, is 97 percent complete and is expected to be finished by December 2026. He described the discussions at the Insaka as "particularly significant" because they address the future direction of the mining industry. The three-million-tonne goal is the centrepiece of government's plans for the sector. In an interview in July, Dr Kabeta set out a roadmap in which about 1.5 million tonnes would come from expansions at existing mines and about 1.25 million tonnes from new greenfield projects, with small-scale mining supplying the remainder. Zambia produced about 732,000 tonnes in 2023, about 825,000 tonnes in 2024 and about 891,000 tonnes by the end of 2025, so reaching three million tonnes by 2031 means more than tripling output in six years. He said then that mining had attracted about US$14 billion in pledged and actual investment after government reforms, and that at least three new mining operations were expected to come on stream before 2031. This week the Ministry of Finance and National Planning said the government expects the national aerial geological survey and related exploration to lead to commercially viable projects, mineral processing, local business participation and jobs. ## Why it matters Copper is Zambia's main export and a major source of jobs and tax revenue. A mine has to be found, tested, financed and built before it produces a single tonne, so the exploration and