Zambia is now exporting copper rods while manufacturing copper cables and wires for the domestic market, using copper produced by mines within the country.

Ministry of Information and Media Director Spokesperson, Henry Kapata, who disclosed the development to the media in Lusaka today, said the difference is happening at the Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Chibombo District, Kembe East Constituency, Central Province, where copper is being processed into products for local industries and export markets.

Mr Kapata said inside the facility, Jiangxi Copper Zambia is manufacturing copper rods, cables and wires.

He noted that the company’s copper rods are exported to neighboring countries, while its cables and wires are sold locally to mining and construction companies.

“The company has about 93 local employees, ” said Mr Kapata.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager, Cooper Zeng, also disclosed that the company was recording approximately US$700,000 in cable sales in Zambia.

Mr Cooper says the period covered by that sales figure was not specified, adding that the company is also looking at expansion.

He noted that plans were underway for another copper production line, which could produce approximately 1,000 tonnes per month.

“This is a planned expansion, not its current production capacity,” said Mr Cooper.

Beyond copper processing, the industrial zone is attracting investment in other manufacturing activities, including vehicle batteries, lithium battery products, solar power storage batteries, battery recycling and transformers.

Zamtrans Electrical is among the companies manufacturing and assembling transformers at the zone, while Xiamen Better Technology Group has been associated with investment in vehicle batteries, solar storage batteries and waste battery recycling.

These industries connect local manufacturing to Zambia’s electricity expansion, energy storage and transport ambitions.

The Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone was officially commissioned by President Hakainde Hichilema on 13 October 2023 and since then, the zone has continued attracting investors across different industries, with manufacturing activities developing around copper products, electrical equipment and batteries.

The progress is significant because Zambia’s economic ambitions extend beyond extracting minerals from the ground. Local processing and manufacturing create opportunities to supply domestic industries, export value-added products, develop skills and expand employment.

And Mr Kapata says with Zambia targeting annual copper production of 3 million metric tonnes by 2031, the challenge is not only to mine more copper, but also to expand the industries that can turn that resource into products and economic opportunities.

He says these developments connect directly to the Grow Zambia Agenda, particularly its ambitions for copper production, energy expansion, industrialisation and job creation.

“The Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone is still in the early stages of production and industrial growth. Yet the copper rods being exported, the cables and wires being supplied locally, and the investments in batteries and transformers offer a practical illustration of the direction Zambia is pursuing: producing more, processing more locally and building industries around its own resources,” he said.

Mr Kapata further added that the question is no longer only how much copper Zambia can mine, but how much more value the country can create from copper before it leaves its borders.

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