Latest news with #Copperbelt


Reuters
20 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Zambia plans 60,000 barrels per day oil refinery in copperbelt
LUSAKA, July 21 (Reuters) - Zambia's government has signed an agreement that paves the way for the development of a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola in the country's copperbelt, it said on Monday. The planned facility will process about 60,000 barrels per day of crude oil, providing enough refined products to satisfy the Southern African nation's entire current fuel demand and potentially allowing for future exports to neighbouring countries, a government statement said. It will save the nation millions of dollars annually in fuel imports once complete, the statement added. Officials hope construction will start in the third quarter of 2025, with a first phase of commercial operations planned for 2026. The agreement was between Zambia's Industrial Development Corporation and Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation of China. An IDC spokesperson told Reuters the refinery would source crude from the Middle East and that it would be imported through the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. As well as fuel production, the planned energy complex will include units for liquefied petroleum gas bottling, bitumen production, lubricants blending and a 130-megawatt power plant, Zambia's government said.


Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Zambia Plans $1.1 Billion Oil Refinery With Fujian Xiang Xin
Zambia's state-owned Industrial Development Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding with Fujian Xiang Xin Corp. to develop an oil refinery that will process about 60,000 barrels a day. The $1.1 billion project will be in Ndola, Copperbelt province, the IDC said in a statement Monday.


Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa: Sustainable resource extraction is a non-negotiable
Insight Terra CEO Alastair Bovim warns that within Africa's 'clean dream' vision lies a difficult truth: the critical metals and minerals powering the clean-energy transition are often extracted under conditions that can potentially devastate communities and ecosystems in resource-rich regions. Sustainable resource extraction is not just an ethical imperative, but a non-negotiable element for the long-term viability and legitimacy of this global shift. Radical reframing of the global clean‑energy The US Embassy health alert in Zambia warned of acute heavy‑metal poisoning following the February tailings dam collapse near Kitwe – a potent reminder that tailings failures have immediate human and environmental consequences. With over five major dam failures already recorded around the world in 2025, these events not only threaten water supplies and soil health but also erode trust in both the mining industry and the energy transition it underpins. Drawing on his recent visits to the Copperbelt Annual Geoenvironmental Symposium 2025 in Kitwe, his participation in the ABB LeaderLeap programme in Stockholm and the AWS Energy and Utilities summit in Houston, Bovim calls for a radical reframing of the global clean‑energy narrative: one that addresses the impact of sourcing copper, cobalt, lithium, and other critical metals and minerals in truly sustainable practices from mine to market. AI and the environment Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to profoundly reshape global energy demand while simultaneously accelerating innovation in decarbonisation technologies - but this transformation is not without cost. 'While the US and Europe reap the greatest benefits from AI and clean energy, it is African communities that bear the brunt of the mining required to power this transition. 'We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the environmental and social sacrifices made in the name of progress. In Kitwe, I saw communities forced to use bottled water,' Bovim recalls. 'Decades of air pollutants from mining operations, smelters and ore transport and tailings dams have also resulted in environmental exposure to people, wildlife and agricultural land, yet these critical metals and minerals remain indispensable to the energy transition.' He believes that technology offers a vital bridge between people and planet, provided it is guided by a people‑first mindset. With the help of satellite connectivity, remote earth-observation sensors, IoT networks and AI analytics, it is now possible to gather continuous data on water quality, dust emissions and dam stability, thereby providing the monitoring, reporting, and verification required for supply chain transparency, environmental accountability, and responsible resource management. True accountability Bovim warns against 'tick‑box' compliance efforts. 'Automated systems are powerful, but they cannot wholly replace local knowledge and human oversight,' he says. 'True accountability demands that technology be deployed in close collaboration with engineers of record, community leaders, and regulators, calibrating alerts and response plans to reflect local realities.' He highlights that a people‑centred ESG lens must move beyond compliance metrics to focus on tangible outcomes: - Fair labour practices: Ensuring safe working conditions and equitable benefit‑sharing for mine‑affected communities. - Environmental remediation: Investing in bioremediation techniques – such as advanced microbial treatments - to neutralise pollutants long after mine closure, and planting crops in rehabilitated land. - Regulatory strengthening: Advocating for robust frameworks that mandate independent monitoring, secure financial provision for closure, and transparent public reporting. 'It was inspiring to learn that some leading European energy companies have set ambitious fossil-free and net-zero goals across their value chains; however, the mining operations that underpin our electric future still have significant progress to make in advancing safety standards and environmental stewardship. 'To truly align with their sustainability commitments, energy companies must also integrate responsible sourcing practices for critical metals and minerals into their supply chains, ensuring that the foundations of the clean energy transition are as ethical and sustainable as its outcomes," says Bovim. Following the recent Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, Bovim urges energy and mining leaders to embed sustainable resource extraction at the heart of their strategies. 'The glitter of clean energy cannot blind us to its true environmental cost. We must integrate responsible resourcing across the entire value chain, from design and exploration through to closure and rehabilitation. Only then can we build an energy future that is both clean and just.' He outlines concrete steps: - Champion global standards: Back initiatives such as the ICMM's Nature Positive framework to align mining practices with biodiversity and climate goals, or the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM) for specific regulations on tailing dam management. - Mandate transparency: Require energy and mining firms to disclose social and environmental performance, enabling investors and communities to make informed decisions. - Empower communities: Ensure local voices guide project planning, monitoring, and benefit‑sharing, transforming passive observers into active partners. - Invest in innovation: Prioritise technologies that enable proactive, data-driven management across the full lifecycle of mining and energy projects, from exploration to closure and rehabilitation. As Europe and North America draw closer to their net‑zero targets, the burden of raw‑material extraction falls heavily on African nations. Bovim stresses that responsible production is inseparable from responsible consumption. 'If we ask developing communities to shoulder the environmental risks of our clean‑energy technologies, we owe them the highest standards of safety, transparency, and remediation. 'That is the only way to ensure the energy transition benefits people and the planet alike,' he concludes.


Bloomberg
26-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Zambia Court Adjoins ZCCM to Sampa's Challenge on Mopani Sale
A Zambian court adjoined the state-owned copper-mining company to a case brought by an opposition lawmaker challenging the sale of Mopani Copper Mines. ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc was joined to the petition challenging the 2024 transaction on June 20, it said in a regulatory statement Thursday.

Zawya
09-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Mining Week to welcome Prime Minister Tuluka on 14 June in Lubumbashi
The organisers of DRC Mining Week expo and conference in Lubumbashi are pleased to announce that the Prime Minister of the DRC, Her Excellency, Mrs Judith Suminwa Tuluka, will be in attendance during the longstanding event's 20th anniversary edition this month in Lubumbashi on 14 June during a special ministerial session. 20 years of shaping mining in the DRC From its inception, DRC Mining Week has evolved into the largest mining and infrastructure platform in the DRC and the Copperbelt, bringing together over 11,500 attendees from 50+ countries. Under the theme '20 Years of Shaping Mining in the DRC: Investing in Infrastructure Development and Energy Security – Vision 2025–2030,' this landmark edition will highlight the progress made and the opportunities that lie ahead. With mining at the heart of the country's industrialisation, the focus will be on investment, infrastructure development and energy security to drive long-term growth. Longstanding support 'We are always delighted to welcome government luminaries to Lubumbashi; therefore we have added a VIP bonus day to our event on 14 June, in order to ensure that high-level government representatives are able to engage with industry leaders,' says Samukelo Madlabane, Events Director – Mining for the VUKA Group. 'Particularly in the light of DRC Mining Week 's 20th anniversary, which would not have been possible without the government's invaluable, longstanding support for this event, which has been fostering collaboration and development within the mining sector for over two decades now.' Valuable exposure More than 11,500+ local and international mining professionals are expected at DRC Mining Week this week, promising valuable exposure and potential contacts for participating partners. The event provides a broad spectrum of thought-provoking content and opportunities to meet existing and prospective partners and clients in the mining and extractive sectors, including: Energy Investment Forum; High-level conference sessions, with topics that include: the Mining Roadmap 2025–2030; expert think-tank; market dynamics and price volatility; and positioning DRC as a leading mining country. Countless meeting and networking occasions for 1300+ elite decision-makers, including mining executives and government officials; An expansive expo with 280+ sponsors and exhibitors showcasing the latest and trusted technologies and services for the industry, including country pavilions; US Government Business Forum (invitation only); European Union Business Forum (invitation only); The Ambassador's Forum and networking business lunch (invitation only) Executive Business Forum (strictly by invitation); CEO Roundtable (Strictly by invitation); Value Chain Investment Forum; Regional Development Forum; Women Mine&Leadership Forum—always a hot ticket and an event highlight; Glittering gala dinner (strictly for ticket holders); Kamoa Site Visit (sold out). The packed programme brochure for the 2025 edition of DRC Mining Week is available on the event website. Click here ( Industry support As has become customary for DRC Mining Week, this year too the event boasts broad industry backing and institutional support, including the official partners, the DRC Ministry of Mining and FEC (Federation of Enterprises of Congo). Its main sponsors include Standard Bank as lead sponsors. The diamond plus sponsors are Ecobank, Equity BCDC, Kamoa Copper S.A., Glencore, Kamoto Copper Company S.A. and MUMI. Other mining houses that will be in attendance this year include Barrick, CMOC, ERG Africa, Gecamines, Ivanhoe Mines and MMG. DRC Mining Week dates and venue: - Expo and conference: 11–13 June 2025 - Farewell lunch on the 14th of June (Strictly by invitation); - Location: The Pullman Grand Karavia Hotel, Lubumbashi, DRC Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group. Social Media: Twitter: Facebook: DRC-Mining-Week ( LinkedIn: About DRC Mining Week: DRC Mining Week is organised by The VUKA Group ( (formerly Clarion Events Africa) ( a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by The Vuka Group include DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum ( Nigeria Mining Week ( Enlit Africa ( Africa's Green Economy Summit ( Smarter Mobility Africa ( ECOM Africa ( and CEM Africa ( Mining Review Africa ( the leading monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry, is the event's premium media partner. Website: