Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
A transformative investment led by the UAE’s International Resources Holding (IRH) has fuelled a strong revival at Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines, one of Africa’s most strategically important copper assets.
A year after IRH became Mopani’s majority shareholder, production is up, jobs have been created, and long-term expansion plans are underway.
Mopani’s latest operational update, presented to suppliers and community leaders in Kitwe on July 18, 2025, revealed a 35% increase in ore production, alongside a 14% rise in copper grades and a 54% boost in contained copper output in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Cathode production surged by 103% versus the first half of 2023, prior to the acquisition. Since 2024, IRH has invested over $1.1 billion into Mopani, including $620 million in equity and $400 million in long-term funding.
This substantial investment has been instrumental in securing Mopani’s financial stability and driving operational improvements.
It is not only the scale of investment, but also IRH’s strong operational capabilities that have stabilised the business, improved performance, and laid the groundwork for future growth.
Building on this momentum, Mopani is now targeting an ambitious copper production goal of 300,000 tonnes per year by 2029.
An airborne geophysical survey is currently underway to identify additional reserves that could extend the life of the mine beyond 30 years.
“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% to over 50 million tonnes 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 IRH 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%, alongside 0.8% of expatriates 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.”
Mopani now employs over 13,000 people, having created 2,293 new roles since March 2024.
The company’s vendor strategy has also prioritised local value, with 80% of procurement spend in 2025 - totalling $685 million - flowing into the Zambian economy.
Of this, $311 million was awarded to local Zambian companies and $374 million to Zambian-registered foreign firms.
Health and education initiatives are also underway, including a $14.8 million investment in hospital upgrades.
Meanwhile, 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.
This has increased operational efficiency and safety while reducing costs. The mine’s wifi infrastructure now reaches 2km underground.
The Mopani investment forms part of IRH’s broader strategy to develop long-term resource partnerships across Africa, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, localisation, and industrial development.
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s expanding investment footprint on the continent and reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to responsible international growth.
