Mining 2026

ZAMBIA Law and Practice Contributed by: Harriet Mdala, Natasha Lungu, Samuel Muleya and Chanda Musonda-Chiluba, MAY & Company

1. Mining Law: General Framework 1.1 Main Features of the Mining Industry Mineral Resources and Production Zambia is endowed with a wealth of mineral resourc - es. The key minerals mined in Zambia include copper, cobalt, manganese, silver, iron, uranium, lead, zinc, coal, and gemstones such as emeralds, tourmaline, aquamarine, and amethyst. Copper remains the cor - nerstone of Zambia’s mining industry, accounting for the bulk of its mineral resources and the majority of its export earnings. To enhance copper production, Zambia has embarked on the National Three Million Metric Tonnes Copper Production Strategy, which aims to increase copper production from the current 800,000+ metric tonnes The mining sector is the backbone of Zambia’s econ - omy, accounting for over 70% of the country’s export earnings. It contributes significantly to government revenues through taxes, royalties, and employment opportunities. Government Regulation The mining industry in Zambia operates within a com - prehensive regulatory framework, primarily governed by the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024 (the “Minerals Act”) and the Geological and Minerals Development Act No. 2 of 2025 (the “GMD Act”). The Minerals Act provides for the regulation and monitoring of the development and management of mineral resources in Zambia, the management and oversight of mining activities, and the licensing of both small-scale and large-scale operations. On the other hand, the GMD Act provides for geological survey, mapping and exploration in Zambia. Regulatory oversight is administered by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and Minerals Regu - lation Commission (the “Commission”) together with the following offices established under the GMD Act: • director geological survey; • director artisanal and small-scale mining; to three million metric tonnes by 2032. The Role of Mining in the Economy

• director of large-scale mining and mineral invest - ment promotion; and • foreign investment and partnerships. Zambia’s mining sector is characterised by the coex - istence of small-scale, artisanal miners and large- scale operations, with foreign investors predominantly driving the latter. International investors account for a significant portion of copper and cobalt production, bringing advanced technologies and substantial capi - tal investments. Technological Advancements The Zambian government has taken proactive steps to modernise and enhance the mining sector. In 2024, a high-resolution aerial geological survey was launched to attract targeted investments and acceler - ate mineral exploration. This initiative aims to provide accurate geological data, which is critical for ramp - ing up copper production and exploring new mineral opportunities. The initial target areas for the survey include western and north-western provinces, cover - ing districts such as Chavuma, Zambezi, Lukulu, and Kalabo. In the 2025 national budget, the government announced an increase in the allocation for aerial geo - logical and geophysical mapping to ZMW364.0 million from ZMW160.0 million in 2024. The mapping exercise is expected to define the nation’s mineral resource endowment and attract investment. As of September 2025, the Government reported that the exercise was 34% complete, with the Western Province and parts of the North-Western Province fully covered. The map - ping programme is scheduled to continue into 2026. Challenges and Risks While the mining industry is vital to Zambia’s econo - my, it faces several challenges. These are: • energy shortages in the mining sector; • fluctuating commodity prices; • unregulated artisanal and small-scale mining risks; • unstable mining legislation and policies; and • underdeveloped road infrastructure making trans - portation of minerals in and out of Zambia difficult.

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