Indian geologists head to Zambia to explore cobalt, copper under landmark 9,000km² deal

Business Insider

2 days ago

India has dispatched a team of geologists to Zambia to begin surveying a vast 9,000 square kilometre zone allocated for the exploration of critical minerals, including cobalt and copper.
India dispatched geologists to Zambia to survey a vast area for critical minerals.
The focus is on cobalt and copper exploration to support clean energy initiatives.
Zambia's mineral reserves are pivotal for global energy transitions and economic partnerships.
This move is part of India's accelerating efforts to secure key raw materials essential to its clean energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ambitions.
The Indian geologists are focused on locating cobalt—a critical component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones—as well as scouting for copper, which plays a vital role in power generation, electronics, and construction.
According to Indian government sources cited by Reuters, the geological team will assess the mineral potential of the allocated land—an area roughly the size of Cyprus—over a multi-year program.
Earlier this year, India announced plans to explore and mine critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, and Australia.
Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao said the government is working with an Indian mining firm - KABIL and other partners to secure mineral assets in these countries through diplomatic missions.
" We will take two to three years in doing this exploration and we hope that after exploration we will be able to get the mining rights also," Rao said.
According to sources, the geological team will conduct multiple visits to the African nation during the project's duration.
Upon evaluating the region's mining potential, the Indian government plans to seek a mining lease from Zambian authorities and potentially partner with private companies for the development phase.
Zambia's vast mineral deposits
Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer, trailing only the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier this year, Zambia agreed to grant India exclusive rights to explore this zone.
The country also holds significant reserves of cobalt and other critical minerals that are increasingly vital to the global energy transition.
However, the nation's mining sector has not fully lived up to its potential in recent years. Challenges such as underinvestment, policy uncertainty, and infrastructure constraints have hindered growth and deterred major international players.
Despite these obstacles, Zambia remains a key target for countries seeking to diversify mineral supply chains away from traditional markets.
With renewed government efforts to attract foreign investment and modernize the mining industry, Zambia is positioning itself as a strategic hub for the exploration and export of minerals essential to the global shift toward clean energy and digital technologies.
As major economies seek to reduce dependence on China and diversify supply chains, countries like India are intensifying their outreach to resource-rich African nations.
Zambia, which has been courting foreign investors to revive its mining sector, views partnerships like this as key to unlocking new revenue streams and boosting domestic capacity.
Last year, U.S.-based KoBold Metals, backed by billionaires including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, announced the discovery of a major copper deposit in Zambia—an important milestone in the country's push to position itself within the global energy transition.
At the same time, Zambia made strides in attracting electric vehicle (EV) investments, with Build Your Dreams (BYD), the world's largest EV manufacturer, expanding into the country through a partnership with Pilatus Electric Mobility Zambia Limited (PEM).
Together, these developments signal rising investor confidence in Zambia's strategic position within the global EV supply chain, further showcasing the country's vast mineral potential and reinforcing the government's efforts to attract foreign investment aimed at reviving and expanding its mining sector.