Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines has experienced a significant revival following a transformative investment by UAE's International Resources Holding (IRH).

 

The mine has seen a 35 per cent increase in ore production, 14 per cent rise in copper grades, and a 54 per cent boost in contained copper output in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.

 

The cathode production has also increased by 103 per cent. IRH has invested over $1.1 billion into Mopani since 2024, including $620 million in equity and $400 million in long-term funding.

 

This investment has helped Mopani's financial stability and operational turnaround. Mopani is now targeting an ambitious copper production goal of 300,000 tons per year by 2029.

 

An airborne geophysical survey is underway to identify additional reserves that could extend the mine's life beyond 30 years.

 

 Mopani now employs over 13,000 people and has created 2,293 new roles since March 2024. The company's vendor strategy prioritises local value, with 80 per cent of procurement spend in 2025 being pumped into the Zambian economy.

 

Health and education initiatives, including a $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.

 

The Mopani investment aligns with IRH's strategy to develop long-term resource partnerships across Africa, emphasising sustainability, localisation, and industrial development.

 

"This is a proud moment for IRH and for the UAE," said Ali AlRashdi, Chief Executive Officer of International Resources Holding. "Our partnership with ZCCM-IH in 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 grow by around 70 per cent to over fifty million tonnes (Mt) a year by 2050 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."

 

“Over the past six months, our analysis has revealed the potential to scale production to 500,000 tonnes of cathode and 28.5 million tonnes of ore,” said Ravi Sharma, Chief Operating Officer of International Resources Holding and Chairman of Mopani Copper Mines. “The economic impact—in terms of job creation and investment—speaks for itself. The progress we have made over the past year is the result of sharp vision and close collaboration. We have modernised our operations, digitised our mines, and built momentum to turnaround the operations. We maintained the Zambian workforce talent to 99.2 per cent alongside with 0.8 per cent of Expatriats constituting strong operational turnaround skills”

 

Charles Sakanya, CEO of Mopani Copper Mines described the turnaround as evidence of a shared commitment to performance and partnership: "The next phase will be even more exciting — for Mopani, for our people, and for Zambia.”-OGN / TradeArabia News Service