Zambia's Critical Minerals Strategy: From Ambition to Delivery

Blog post
3 June 2026

Countries around the world are racing to secure critical minerals. Demand for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths is projected to nearly triple by 2030 because of the energy transition, AI, and other industrial needs. The IMF predicts that sub-Saharan Africa's share of the coming critical minerals boom will top $1.6 trillion over the next 25 years — enough, if governed well, to lift regional GDP by 12 percent or more by 2050.

Zambia, rich in critical minerals such as copper and cobalt, is uniquely positioned to benefit. With an established mining industry, a government actively advancing reforms, growing engagement from civil society and other actors, many of the key foundations are in place. But Zambia’s past demonstrates that mineral wealth does not automatically deliver inclusive development. Despite years of focus on copper mining, which today makes up 70 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, almost two-thirds of Zambians still survive on less than two dollars a day, and there are genuine concerns around transparency, environmental impact, and community engagement in the industry. This new minerals boom provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the daily lives of everyday Zambians in a sustainable way, but this is by no means guaranteed.

Against this backdrop, NRGI recently brought together a group of key stakeholders in Lusaka to reflect on the progress in implementing Zambia’s 2024-2028 “Critical Minerals Strategy” and identify practical steps to strengthen delivery. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development (MMMD) and the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD), around 70 participants attended, including senior leaders from government, civil society, industry and development partners. After an opening keynote by Dr. Hapenga Kabeta, Permanent Secretary MMMD, the Ministry delivered a progress update across the strategy’s four pillars, before participants shared feedback and debated priority next actions.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

Progress has been made across the strategic objectives. The strategy is anchored on the vision of Zambia becoming ‘A country that ensures sustainable exploitation and value addition to critical minerals, and reliability in the critical minerals global supply chain to enhance the socio-economic lives of its people’. It has four key objective areas, namely: Advancing Geological Mapping and Mineral Resource Development and Management; Enhancing Strategic Government and Private Sector Partnerships; Beneficiation and Value Addition; and Research and Development (R&D). In their presentations, Government representatives shared that policy and institutional reforms have been made, a country-wide aerial geophysical survey is nearing completion, and that MOUs have been signed with a number of countries, including on topics such as regional collaboration and value addition. Participants acknowledged the progress made to date while emphasizing that the next phase must focus on implementation, monitoring, financing, and institutional coordination if the strategy is to deliver tangible, lasting, and inclusive development outcomes.
Further clarification and policy alignment is critical. Representatives from civil society, industry, and collaborative partners highlighted a number of critical gaps in both understanding and alignment. Among these were a lack of a shared definition of critical minerals, and a lack of regulations to enforce the strategy. Several participants noted that critical minerals policy cannot operate in isolation. Success will depend on stronger alignment with industrial policy, energy planning, infrastructure and fiscal policy planning processes.

Regional integration could deliver both economic benefit and geopolitical leverage. There was a shared sense that thoughtful regional integration is critical and should be pursued and accelerated. Participants noted its potential to strengthen regional value chains, reduce infrastructure bottlenecks, improve market access, and support regional industrial initiatives, including battery precursor production and mineral processing. In addition, with Zambia navigating increasing interest from international partners seeking access to critical mineral supply chains, the additional leverage that regional integration brings is also critical.
Value addition is vital—but needs detailed analysis and tailored strategies. Value addition is critical to allow Zambia to capture more value from raw minerals, but careful planning and nuance is required. Participants noted that mineral-specific strategies should be developed, and scaling up of local content requirements should be done in a phased, realistic way, learning from pilots. Attendees from the manufacturing community also noted that this sector is critical for value addition to succeed, and expressed a desire to be more closely engaged with the strategy moving forward. Issues of power, financial and human capital were also flagged as requiring investment if value addition is to deliver inclusive benefits.

Collaboration and transparency are the bedrocks of success. This opportunity to hear progress and challenges directly from the government was welcomed by participants. The importance of ensuring that communities in mining regions are informed, consulted, and able to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting local development priorities was also highlighted. The timeliness of the Dialogue was also commended, given the ongoing review of implementation progress of the Strategy and other policy processes underway, such as the 2027 Budget formulation and 9th National Development Plan. Regular updates, feedback sessions, and other inclusive processes will be needed to harness the full potential of the strategy.
Regional lessons and opportunities. The issues discussed in Lusaka are not unique to Zambia. Across Africa, governments are grappling with similar questions around value addition, regional integration, industrial policy, transparency and community benefits. Zambia’s experience therefore offers valuable lessons for other mineral-producing countries seeking to convert resource wealth into long-term development outcomes.

At NRGI, we are determined to continue to play our part, both in Zambia and across the continent. We will be delivering a fuller report to the Ministry in due course, and this will be shared openly, and used as an input for other related policy processes and for regional learning. We will continue to work with civil society, communities, government, and other partners to support evidence-based implementation of the strategy and help ensure a future where Zambia’s rich mineral deposits serve as a bedrock for a thriving, inclusive society.