Zambia’s ambitious target to increase copper production from the current 830,000 metric tones to 3,000,000 in the next ten years is still uncertain as there seems to be no stringent measures being undertaken to hit the target.
The Association of Zambian Mineral Exploration Companies – AZMEC says although the 3 million metric tons copper production target is doable by 2031, the association is not aware of any exploration project that is currently at an advanced stage and will allow it to come into production before 2031.
Zambia’s copper production for the year had fallen by 5% to around 760,000 tonnes, which is not in line with the New Dawn Administration’s target to increase copper production to over 3 million tons [per annum by 2031.
AZMEC office Manager Kristina Kanche said Zambia has got geological potential to hit the target, however the question remains if it will be possible to do so by 20231.
She said the reason for that is that ramping up of the existing mines could take the country to double the current production to 1.5 mt of copper production per year.
The remainder production could have then come from projects that are currently under exploration status which may require more than 8 years to get to find economic mineralization (that is a mineralized area that meets specific criteria for volume, grade, and orebody geometry), delineate a resource, develop a mine plan and eventually build a mine and start production.
Kanche said the most important aspect that needs to be done for this aspiration to be realized is to demonstrate transparency and efficiency around the mining rights system and procedures, so there is more predictability for all the stakeholders. She said this will in turn increase investors’ confidence and would reactivate exploration activities which are which are required to build the foundations to have more mines in the future.
Additionally, the geological survey could be investing in aerial surveys and mapping to help build the base knowledge that is required for exploration companies to speed up their work.
Having an organised data system available online would be extremely helpful for the initial area selection stage before we move into acquiring exploration rights.
The Association has since recommended that Government should consider undertaking high resolution airbone geophysical surveys (magnetic, radiometric and electromagnetic) across the country to allow for mapping of the underlying geology and generation of conceptual drill targets.
Kanche said there is urgent need for new and more geophysical surveys in the country to increase exploration activities, which in-turn leads to increased mining production.
