Latest news with #Kitwe
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE-Backed Investment drives revival of Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines
Abu Dhabi, UAE – A transformative investment led by the UAE's International Resources Holding (IRH) has helped deliver a strong revival at Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines, one of Africa's most strategically important copper assets. A year after IRH became Mopani's majority shareholder, production is up, jobs have been created, and long-term expansion plans are now underway. Mopani's latest operational update, presented to suppliers and community leaders in Kitwe, revealed a 14% increase in ore production to 2.59 million tonnes, alongside an 18% rise in copper grades and a 23% boost in contained copper output to 47.2 thousand tonnes. A World Bank Report published on 9 July identified the revival of Mopani as a contributing factor in Zambia's 4% GDP growth in 2024. These gains have been underpinned by over $1.1 billion in investment from IRH since 2023, including $620 million in equity capital and $400 million in long-term funding. Further expansion is planned, with Mopani targeting copper output of 300,000 tonnes per year by 2029. A new airborne geophysical survey is underway to identify additional reserves that could extend the life of the mine by more than 30 years. "This is a proud moment for IRH and for the UAE," said Ali AlRashdi, Chief Executive Officer of International Resources Holding. "Our partnership with Mopani is a model for long-term, responsible investment. We are creating jobs, building capacity, and supporting Zambia's position in the global energy transition. Global copper demand is forecast to reach 4.5 million tonnes by 2030 as the green energy transition accelerates, and our investment in Mopani means the mine can be at the forefront of enabling this change. This is the kind of impact we strive for as part of our international growth strategy." Charles Sakanya, CEO of Mopani Copper Mines, described the turnaround as evidence of a shared commitment to performance and partnership: "The progress we have made over the past year is the result of clear vision and close collaboration. With IRH's support, we've modernised our operations, digitised our mines, and built momentum. The next phase will be even more exciting — for Mopani, for our people, and for Zambia." Mopani now employs over 13,000 people, having created more than 2,300 new roles since 2024. The company's vendor strategy has also prioritised local value, with 90% of procurement spend in 2025 so far awarded to Zambian businesses – worth $436 million. Health and education initiatives, including an $14.8 million investment in hospital upgrades, are also underway. Mopani's digitisation programme has made it one of the most technologically advanced mines in the region, with real-time monitoring systems, AI-supported grade control, and predictive maintenance infrastructure – which has increased the mine's operating efficiency and safety performance, whilst also reducing costs. Mopani's wifi infrastructure now reaches 2km underground. The Mopani investment forms part of IRH's broader strategy to develop long-term resource partnerships across Africa, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, localisation, and industrial development. The initiative aligns with the UAE's growing investment footprint on the continent and reflects Abu Dhabi's commitment to responsible international growth. About International Resources Holding International Resources Holding (IRH), a subsidiary of 2PointZero, founded in 2022, is a dynamic natural resources extractive company with a portfolio of diverse Metals and Minerals. Operating in the entire mining value chain, IRH undertakes upstream, midstream and downstream processes. We embrace the highest standards of safety for people and processes and create in-country value for the communities and countries we partner with through responsible mining practices, social investments, and respect for ecosystem sustainability. About Mopani Copper Mines PLC Mopani Copper Mines PLC is a Zambian-registered integrated mining investment with operations in Kitwe and Mufulira districts of the Copperbelt Province in the Republic of Zambia. The company's operations encompass the full range of the copper production chain: from extracting the ore underground to concentrating, smelting, refining and packaging the finished cathode for export. Mopani Copper Mines PLC is 51 percent owned by Delta Mining Limited, a subsidiary of International Resources Holding of the United Arab Emirates and 49 percent ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC, a diversified mining investments and operations holding company of Zambia. IRH acquired the 51 percent shareholding in 2024 from ZCCM-IH, which had wholly owned Mopani from 2021 after buying off the previous majority stake in the mine from Carlisa Investments – a joint venture between Swiss commodity trader Glencore and Canadian-based First Quantum Minerals. Carlisa Investments ran Mopani from privatisation in 2000. With a rich history in mining and processing dating back to the 1930s, Mopani Copper Mines PLC's assets in Kitwe and Mufulira include underground mines, concentrators, a smelter and a refinery. The company has continued upgrading its infrastructure by investing in new technologies to increase production and improve efficiencies. The new infrastructure includes three deep shafts (Synclinorium, Mindola and Henderson), which were sunk and equipped between 2014 and 2021 to extend the life of the mine by over 25 years, safeguard the existing jobs at both mine sites and ensure Mopani's continuous contribution to Zambia's economic development. Mopani Copper Mines PLC remains committed to supporting the social-economic development of the host communities through its robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. The company supports the development of sports, local enterprises, education, health, basic infrastructure as well as water and sanitation in the communities of Kitwe and Mufulira.
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.
