Editing Economy of Zambia (section)

=== Mining ===
{{main|Mining in Zambia}}

In 2019, the country was the world's 7th largest producer of [[copper]].<ref>[https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-copper.pdf USGS Copper Production Statistics]</ref>

The Zambian economy has historically been based on the copper-mining industry. The industrialization of the copper industry is owed partly to [[Frederick Russell Burnham]], the famous American scout who worked for [[Cecil Rhodes]].<ref name="juang2008">{{cite book |last=Juang |first=Richard M. |title=Africa and the Americas: culture, politics, and history : a multidisciplinary encyclopedia, Volume 2 Transatlantic relations series |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=1157 |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-85109-441-7}}</ref> By 1998, however, output of copper had fallen to a low of 228,000 [[tonne]]s, continuing a 30-year decline in output due to lack of investment, and until recently, low copper prices and uncertainty over privatization. In 2001, the first full year of a privatized industry, Zambia recorded its first year of increased productivity since 1973. The future of the copper industry in Zambia was thrown into doubt in January 2002, when investors in Zambia's largest copper mine announced their intention to withdraw their investment. However, surging copper prices from 2004 to the present day rapidly rekindled international interest in Zambia's copper sector with a new buyer found for KCCM and massive investments in expanding capacity launched. China has become a major investor in the Zambian copper industry, and in February 2007, the two countries announced the creation of a Chinese-Zambian economic partnership zone around the Chambishi copper mine.<ref>{{cite news|title=China's Trade in Africa Carries a Price Tag|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/world/africa/21zambia.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 21, 2007}}</ref>

Today copper mining is central to the economic prospects for Zambia and covers 85% of all the country's exports, but concerns remain that the economy is not diversified enough to cope with a collapse in international copper prices.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Production of Mineral Raw Materials 2016-2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=world-mining-data |date=24 April 2022 |title=World Mining Data: Data Section |url=https://www.world-mining-data.info/?World_Mining_Data___Data_Section |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=world-mining-data.info}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=zambiainvest |date=31 December 2016 |title=Copper Production 2016 - IIF |url=https://www.zambiainvest.com/mining/copper-production-2016-iif/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=zambiainvest.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=investingnews |date=24 April 2022 |title=A Closer Look at Copper Mining in Zambia |url=https://investingnews.com/a-closer-look-at-copper-mining-in-zambia/ |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=investingnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mfula |first=Chris |date=23 February 2021 |title=Zambia Copper Output |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zambia-copper-idUSKBN2AN0NL |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=copperbeltkatangamining |date=13 August 2022 |title=Zambia's copper production and prices plummet, putting country's economic growth goals in jeopardy|url=https://copperbeltkatangamining.com/zambias-copper-production-and-prices-plummet-putting-countrys-economic-growth-goals-in-jeopardy/ |access-date=14 August 2022 |website=copperbeltkatangamining.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MUCHIYA |first=TYNDALE |date=16 February 2023 |title=Zambia's 2022 Copper Production Drops |url=https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/zambias-2022-copper-production-drops/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |website=zambianbusinesstimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MUCHIYA |first=TYNDALE |date=24 April 2023 |title=Cobalt Production Rebounding |url=https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/cobalt-production-rebounding/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |website=zambianbusinesstimes.com}}</ref><ref name="ZA">{{Cite web |date=21 May 2023 |title=Zambia Annual Economic Reports |url=https://www.mofnp.gov.zm/?page_id=3285 |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=mofnp.gov.zm}}</ref>
!Year
![[Copper]] (MT)
!% Growth of [[Copper|Cu]]
![[Cobalt]] (MT)
![[Gold]] (kg)
![[Nickel]] (MT)
![[Manganese]] (MT)
![[Coal]](MT)
![[Emerald]]s(kg)
![[Beryllium]] (kg)
![[Sulfur]] (elemental & industrial) (MT)
|-
|2016
|{{Increase}}774,290
|{{Increase}}8.82%
|{{Increase}}5,276
|{{Increase}}4.610
|0
|{{Increase}}27,500
|{{Increase}}129,470
|{{Increase}}74,742
|{{Increase}}5,000
|{{Increase}}363,000
|-
|2017
|{{Increase}}799,329
|{{Increase}}3.23%
|{{Decrease}}2,649
|{{Decrease}}4,373
|0
|{{Increase}}39,900
|{{Increase}}208,608
|{{Decrease}}65,243
|{{Decrease}}4,000
|{{Increase}}679,500
|-
|2018
|{{Increase}}861,946
|{{Increase}}7.83%
|{{Decrease}}1,766
|{{Decrease}}4,044
|0
|{{Increase}}37,800
|{{Increase}}344,717
|{{Decrease}}18,869
|{{Increase}}7,000
|{{Increase}}947,800
|-
|2019
|{{Decrease}}796,430
|{{Decrease}}-7.60%
|{{Decrease}}1,271
|{{Increase}}4.522
|{{Increase}}1,110
|{{Decrease}}15,904
|{{Increase}}361,648
|{{Increase}}23,705
|{{Steady}}7,000
|{{Increase}}960,300
|-
|2020
|{{Increase}}882,061
|{{Increase}}10.75%
|{{Decrease}}   367
|{{Decrease}}3,994
|{{Increase}}3,226
|{{Increase}}46,515
|{{Increase}}446,153
|{{Decrease}}7,653
|{{Decrease}}2,000
|{{Decrease}}917,300
|-
|2021
|{{Decrease}}802,967
|{{Decrease}}-8.97%
|{{Decrease}}   247
|{{Decrease}}2,432
|{{Increase}}3,834
|{{Increase}}132,241
|{{Increase}}663,345
|{{Increase}}12,871
|
|
|-
|2022
|{{Decrease}}763,287
|{{Decrease}}-4.94%
|{{Increase}}   251
|{{Decrease}}1,515
|{{Increase}}4,059
|{{Increase}}161,611
|{{Increase}}781,466
|{{Increase}}20,703
|
|
|-
|2023
|{{Decrease}}682,431
|{{Decrease}}-10.59%
|{{Increase}} 1,467
|{{Increase}} 1,945
|{{Increase}}6,169
|{{Increase}}171,066
|{{Increase}}915,187
|{{Decrease}}14,814
|
|
|-
|2024
|{{Increase}}771,036
|{{Increase}}12.98%
|{{Decrease}}1,310
|{{Increase}}3.159
|{{Increase}}19,137
|
|{{Decrease}}769,531
|{{Increase}}31,683
|
|
|}
In January 2013, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) approved 27 mining and exploration licences, with more rumoured to be confirmed.<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://allafrica.com/stories/201301300737.html
| title = Zambia: Approved Exploration Licences to Boost Mining
| year = 2013
| publisher = [[AllAfrica.com]]
| publication-place = [[Africa]]
}}</ref>

Zambia is the world's second biggest producer of [[emerald]]s, with its [[Kafubu River (Zambia)|Kafubu River]] area deposits ([[Gemfields#Kagem Emerald Mine|Kagem Mines]]) about {{convert|45|km|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Kitwe]] responsible for 20% of the world's production of gem-quality stones in 2004.<ref>Behling, Steve and Wilson, Wendell E. (January 1, 2010) "[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Kagem+emerald+mine%3a+Kafubu+Area%2c+Zambia.-a0219077097 The Kagem emerald mine: Kafubu Area, Zambia]", ''The Mineralogical Record'', via [[TheFreeLibrary]]</ref> In the first half of 2011, the Kagem Mines produced 3.74 tons of emeralds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Kagem Zambian Emerald? |url=http://www.sharongulezianjewelry.com/1/post/2016/01/-what-is-kagem-zambian-emerald.html |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=Sharon Gulezian Jewelry |language=en}}</ref> In April 2022, [[Gemfields]], the majority owner in the mine, recorded a record U$42.3 million at a sold out March/April auction and since 2009, Kagem-sourced gemstones ([[emerald]] and [[beryl]]) have netted Gemfields revenue totaling U$792 million with the proceeds fully repatriated to Kagem in Zambia, with all royalties due to the Zambian government paid on the full sales prices achieved at auctions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lusaka Times |date=20 April 2022 |title=Gemfields achieves record revenue for sold out March–April auction |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2022/04/20/gemfields-achieves-record-revenue-for-sold-out-march-april-auction/ |access-date=20 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Kagem Mines Performance<ref>{{Cite web |last=gemfields |date=24 April 2022 |title=Gemfields Annual Report 2021 |url=https://gemfields.s3.amazonaws.com/Documents/2022/Reports/20211231%20GGL%20Annual%20Report.pdf |access-date=24 April 2022 |website=gemfields.s3.amazonaws.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2023 |title=Gemfields Annual Report 2022 |url=https://www.gemfieldsgroup.com/annual-report/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=gemfieldsgroup.com}}</ref>
!Year
!Premium [[Emerald]]
(carats)
!Emerald and [[Beryl]]
('000 carats)
|-
|2019
|{{Increase}}204,600
|{{Increase}}36,300
|-
|2020
|{{Decrease}}133,900
|{{Decrease}}9,400
|-
|2021
|{{Increase}}230,500
|{{Increase}}32,000
|-
|2022
|{{Increase}}259,500
|{{Increase}}37,241
|-
|2023
|{{Decrease}}156,700<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=25 March 2025 |title=Gemfields annual Results Presentation for the Year ending 31 December 2023 |url=https://www.gemfieldsgroup.com/annual-results-presentation-for-the-year-ending-31-december-2023/ |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=gemfieldsgroup.com}}</ref>
|{{Decrease}}30,153<ref name=":0" />
|}
Rich deposits of [[Uranium]] have been discovered in some parts of Zambia. In 2007, the Zambian government sought scrutiny and  guidance from the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) on its developed guidelines to regulate the mining of uranium in the country.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=6 April 2008 |title=Gold, Copper and Uranium discovered in Kaputa in the Northern Province |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2008/04/06/gold-copper-uranium-discovered-in-kaputa-in-the-northern-province/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref> In 2008, deposits were found in [[Kaputa District]], [[Northern Province, Zambia|Northern Province]].<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=8 August 2007 |title=Zambia's Uranium system better than the one in the Central United States |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2007/08/08/zambias-uranium-system-better-than-central-uss/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref> Albidon Zambia Limited also confirmed the presence of high-grade uranium mineralisation at its Njame east project near [[Chirundu, Zambia|Chirundu]].<ref name=":7" /> In the [[Southern Province, Zambia|Southern Province]], 31&nbsp;km North of [[Siavonga]], and north of [[Lake Kariba]], there are 5 main Uranium Deposits: Mutanga, Dibwe, Dibwe East, Njame, and Gwabe explored under The Mutanga Uranium Project. The [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Toronto Stock Exchange]] (TSX) listed GoviEx Uranium Inc acquired 100% of the Mutanga Project also known as the Kariba Uranium Project in 2016. In March 2022, GoviEx announced that the Project is forecast to start production in 2027 and could be the lowest capital intensive uranium project in Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mumba |first=Donald |date=28 February 2022 |title=Uranium mining set to start in Zambia |url=https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/uranium-mining-set-to-start-in-zambia/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=zambianbusinesstimes.com}}</ref>

[[Lumwana mine|Lumwana Mining Company Limited (LMC)]] who had embarked on uranium exploration in 2007 in [[Solwezi District]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=31 December 2007 |title=lumwana-mine-embarks-on-uranium-explorations |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2007/12/31/lumwana-mine-embarks-on-uranium-explorations/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref> are currently stock piling uranium that the firm is getting as a by-product of Copper from its operations as they are yet to obtain a uranium license.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=30 March 2017 |title=lumwana-mine-not-exporting-uranium-just-stock-pilling-yaluma |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/03/30/lumwana-mine-not-exporting-uranium-just-stock-pilling-yaluma/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MUCHIYA |first=TYNDALE |date=14 April 2022 |title=Uranium Production at Lumwana could start once prices improve |url=https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/uranium-production-at-lumwana-could-start-once-prices-improve/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=zambianbusinesstimes.com}}</ref> The mining of uranium in Zambia is monitored by the [[Zambia Environmental Management Agency]] (ZEMA).<ref name=":8" />

''See Also:''
* [[Mazabuka#Munali Nickel Mine|Munali Nickel Mine]] estimated development cost U$180 million in 2007<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=mining-technology |date=12 October 2020 |title=Munali Nickel Project |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/munali_nickel/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=mining-technology.com}}</ref>
* [[Kalumbila District#Enterprise Nickel Project|Enterprise Nickel Project]] estimated development cost U$275 million<ref>{{Cite web |last=metalbulletin |date=7 May 2022 |title=First Quantum Mineral's 60,000 ton per year Nickel Mine in Zambia to cost 275 million US dollars |url=https://www.metalbulletin.com/Article/3140752/First-Quantum-Minerals-60000-tpy-nickel-mine-in-Zambia-to-cost-275-million.html |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=metalbulletin.com |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507112839/https://www.metalbulletin.com/Article/3140752/First-Quantum-Minerals-60000-tpy-nickel-mine-in-Zambia-to-cost-275-million.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>