Billions Invested, Innovation Driving Copper Growth
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 – (17-12-2025) – Zambia can only achieve its three-million-tonne copper production target through a deliberate policy shift that prioritizes innovation, automation, and precision technology.
The government is advancing this transformation through the establishment of the MineTech Hub, designed to drive production growth, enhance safety, and support long-term sector reforms.
Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between government and First Quantum Minerals (FQM), Technology and Science Felix Mutati said the MineTech Hub is central to Zambia’s policy framework for modernizing the mining industry. He highlighted public-private collaboration with partners including Barrick, Liquid Telecom, and ZCCM-IH.
Mutati explained that the hub operationalizes President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to increase copper production to three million tonnes by embedding technology and innovation into mining policy execution.
He emphasized that achieving the target requires coordinated investment in technology, skills development, and partnerships with mining companies.
He noted that government reforms have unlocked investment, reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks, and resolved legal disputes that previously constrained growth.
These reforms have attracted approximately US$7 billion in mining investment over the past four years—the highest in a single period.
Reinforced by macroeconomic measures, including debt restructuring, Zambia has exited default and regained investment-grade status, strengthening investor confidence in the mining sector.
The MineTech Hub is designed as an implementation platform to support productivity, reduce operating costs, and improve safety outcomes.
Unlike conventional innovation centres, it directly addresses operational challenges identified by mining companies.
Firms like First Quantum Minerals and Barrick articulate their constraints, and innovators translate these into practical solutions for deployment.
Government aims to position Zambia not only as a mining destination but also as Africa’s leading mining technology hub.
The MineTech Hub will develop, test, and demonstrate solutions in autonomous equipment, precision mining, and digital operations for adoption across the continent.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has committed nearly US$2 million as initial capital for the hub and supports resource mobilization.
Mutati emphasized that sustained success depends on strong local ownership by Zambians and industry stakeholders, as well as alignment with digital infrastructure, including high-speed networks such as 5G.
Advanced technologies such as autonomous trucks, drones, and real-time monitoring systems rely on these networks.
The hub integrates human capital development into mining policy, with a focus on young innovators.
It provides an environment for applied research, innovation, and problem-solving, complementing technologies already deployed in Zambian mines, such as autonomous haulage systems and digital safety platforms.
Mutati said technology adoption is improving productivity, operational efficiency, and safety standards, ensuring that workers return home safely—a non-negotiable policy objective.
He stressed that increased copper output must translate into inclusive economic benefits, growing national income and boosting GDP.
UNDP Resident Representative Dr. James Wakiaga described the MineTech Hub as a catalyst for structural transformation.
He emphasized scaling mining solutions, positioning African startups competitively in global markets, and integrating youth into innovation-driven industries.
First Quantum Minerals Zambia Director Anthony Mukutuma said Zambia’s copper ambitions require mining companies to abandon traditional methods and adopt advanced technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and precision.
The company has grown from producing 10,000 tonnes of copper in 1996 to nearly 800,000 tonnes at peak, reflecting long-term confidence in Zambia’s policy direction.
Mr. Mukutuma explained that declining ore grades—from 2–3% historically to about 0.4% today—mean mining operations must handle unprecedented volumes to maintain output.
Achieving three million tonnes will require mining about 36 million tonnes of ore and moving roughly 2.4 billion tonnes of material, impossible with conventional methods.
He highlighted autonomous drilling systems, which deliver up to 99.9% accuracy, improve blasting, enhance material movement efficiency, reduce operating costs, and improve safety by reducing human exposure to high-risk tasks.
Mr. Clayton Sanders, Lead Group Mine Technology at First Quantum Minerals, emphasized that autonomous drills are operational in Zambia, enabling remote control in climate-controlled rooms.
The system improves productivity, safety, and skill development without reducing jobs. Advanced sensing technologies—cameras, radar, lidar, and GPS—optimize machine movement and production decisions.
Complementing technological advances, the MineTech Hub (also called Timbuktoo MineTech Hub) fosters African-led solutions for sustainable mining.
Salome Nakazwe said the hub supports startups, technology-driven projects, and environmentally friendly practices.
Based at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka, the hub partners with UNDP, BongoHive, and others to provide mentorship, seed funding, prototyping, and global networks.
The Timbuktoo MineTech Accelerator Programme attracted innovators from across Africa in 2025. Startups presented AI-driven resource mapping, blockchain-based mineral traceability, green energy solutions, and post-mining land restoration projects.
Webinars and engagement sessions connected startups with investors, regulators, and mining companies, increasing visibility and commercialization opportunities.
Equity-free funding of up to US$25,000 supports youth-led teams developing practical solutions in waste management, mineral recovery, drone technology, and data visualization.
Ms. Nakazwe said the hub is fostering innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth across Africa’s mining sector.
NISIR Deputy Director Alick Muvundika said the hub is a strategic facility to accelerate innovation, address environmental challenges, and develop solutions for Zambia’s mining sector.
He emphasized that Africa holds 70% of the world’s mineral resources, with Zambia accounting for 6% of global copper deposits.
“The MineTech Hub must be more than a physical space. It must serve as a platform for cooperation, unity, and measurable impact,” Mr. Muvundika said.
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