Mining and Technical Exhibitions Expo Begins in Zambia

Foreign Brief, September 26, 2022

Zambia’s Mining and Technical Exhibition (MTE) begins today.

The MTE event takes place throughout Sub-Saharan Africa with the goal of introducing innovative technologies and developments in the mining sector to Zambia’s top mining companies like Konkola Copper Mines. Zambia is home to some of the world’s largest copper deposits and has smaller but exploitable cobalt, manganese and nickel deposits. Copper accounts for 60% of Zambia’s total exports. For years, investment has been hindered by inconsistent policies and unfavorable political conditions. 

Image via First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals, a Canadian mining company, recently announced a $1.2-billion-dollar investment in Zambia’s Kansanshi copper mine, the largest such mine in Africa, indicating a trend towards more investment in Africa’s “Copper Belt” between Zambia and The Democratic Republic of Congo. With copper demand expected to grow as the renewable energy revolution continues and traditional producers, such as Chile and Peru facing greater political and regulatory uncertainty Zambia may come to the forefront as a viable source of copper.

Today’s exhibition where suppliers will showcase key products and innovative technologies that will be important for ramping up Zambia’s productive capacity by reducing costs to support major increases in output to support growing demand for copper cables and wires needed for electric vehicles, solar panels and other products for a global green economy transition.