ZAMBIA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Harriet Mdala, Maloba Nalomba, Chilufya Lwando Sinkala and Hlezipe Alexis Halwiindi, MAY & Company
MAY and Company MAY Building, Gallery Office Park Stand Number 4015A Lusaka Zambia Tel: +26 021 125 0580 Email: info@mayandco.co.zm Web: www.mayandco.law Lagos Road Rhodespark
In 2024, the mining industry accounted for approxi - mately 17% of GDP and generated export earnings of about USD11.4 billion. Copper output rose by 12% to 820,676 tonnes, and production forecasts for 2025 remain positive as new and existing operations stabilise. The sector continues to be shaped by the government’s focus on restoring investor confidence, strengthening regulatory oversight and supporting increased mineral production. The broader ambition to raise annual output toward three million tonnes by 2030 remains a central reference point for policy direction. A key area of emphasis has been the accelerated nationwide geological survey. The government has allocated KES1.2 billion in the 2026 budget to support geological mapping, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) hubs and the operationalisation of new regula - tory bodies. Approximately 34% of the high-resolution aerial survey has been completed, covering parts of the Western, Northwestern, and southern regions, as well as the Luangwa–Zambezi confluence. The expanded availability of geological data is intended to support informed investment decisions. Formali - sation within the ASM segment has also progressed, with more than 90 cooperative licences issued in 2025 and plans for new processing and marketing centres for gold and other minerals. The legislative environment has evolved considerably. Under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No 14 of 2024, the newly created Minerals Regulation Commission will assume responsibility for licensing,
compliance and enforcement, while the Ministry of Mines retains a policy role. The Geological and Miner - als Development Act No 2 of 2025 supplements this institutional shift by providing a clearer framework for geological work, exploration and support to artisanal miners. Separately, the Geological and Minerals Development (Local Content Preference for Goods and Services in the Mining Sector) Regulations, 2025, introduce procurement thresholds for Zambian suppliers; 20% initially, rising to 25% after two years and 35% with - in three years of the Regulations taking effect on 1 January 2026. The Regulations also require reporting on Zambian employment and supplier-development initiatives. These measures indicate an intention to increase local participation in mining value chains. The government has moved from the FlexiCadastre system to a new online system, which is now opera - tional. As with any system transition, refinements are ongoing, and industry stakeholders continue to assess the platform’s performance, particularly how it will interface with the regulatory functions of the Minerals Regulation Commission. Energy availability remains an important issue for the sector. Zambia’s installed capacity increased from 3,811 MW in 2024 to approximately 3,985.86 MW as of September 2025, largely due to private-sector investment, including the commissioning of the 100 MW Chisamba Solar Plant and an 85 MW thermal plant scheduled for commissioning in late 2025.
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