Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding (IRH) and Zambia’s state-owned ZCCM Investments Holdings are exploring additional mining opportunities in Zambia, extending their partnership beyond Mopani Copper Mines as the country works towards increasing annual copper production to three million metric tons by 2031.
According to Reuters, the two companies announced their plans on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, two years after IRH acquired a controlling stake in Mopani through an investment arrangement worth $1.1 billion.
The latest development places Zambia Mining Investment in focus as the country seeks to expand mineral production and attract additional capital into the sector.
The proposed IRH Zambia Mining Expansion could extend the Emirati company’s activities into mineral exploration and other mining operations, although neither company has disclosed specific new assets or investment commitments.
IRH, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s 2PointZero Group, acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines in 2024 after Zambia’s government had taken control of the business three years earlier.
The investment has become part of Zambia’s broader effort to rebuild copper production and strengthen the mining industry’s contribution to the national economy.
IRH Zambia Mining Expansion Targets New Opportunities
The latest announcement signals that the partnership between IRH and ZCCM Investments Holdings could extend beyond their existing involvement in Mopani Copper Mines.
ZCCM Investments Holdings, led by Chief Executive Officer Kakenenwa Muyangwa, is Zambia’s state-owned mining investment company and a key partner in the proposed expansion.
In a joint statement, the companies confirmed that they are assessing opportunities across Zambia’s mineral sector.
“Beyond Mopani, IRH and ZCCM-IH are also exploring new opportunities for collaboration in mineral exploration and wider mining operations,” the companies said.
The statement establishes the direction of the proposed IRH Zambia Mining Expansion but does not identify any mines, exploration licences or acquisition targets currently under consideration.
It also does not disclose the amount of additional capital either company might commit.
Nevertheless, the announcement shows that both partners are examining ways to deepen their involvement in Zambia’s mining industry.
For Zambia Mining Investment, the potential expansion comes as the country seeks to raise copper production through investment in existing mines and additional mining operations.
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Mopani remains central to the partnership between IRH and ZCCM Investments Holdings.
The copper producer recorded output of 66,369 metric tons in 2025 and has forecast that annual production will reach 300,000 tons by 2029.
That target represents an increase of more than four times its 2025 production level.
The projected growth is important because Mopani is one of the operations expected to contribute to Zambia’s wider copper production ambitions.
IRH’s $1.1 billion investment commitment was intended to support the revival of the mining business after a period of operational and financial challenges.
The company’s 51% ownership stake also established a significant foreign investment position in Zambia’s copper industry.
As the IRH Zambia Mining Expansion moves into discussions about additional assets, Mopani’s production performance will remain an important measure of the existing partnership.
However, the 300,000-ton figure is a forecast for 2029, not an output level the company has already achieved.
Zambia Mining Investment Supports 3 Million-Ton Copper Target
Zambia has set a goal of increasing annual copper production to three million metric tons by 2031.
As Africa’s second-largest copper producer, the country sees expansion of its mining industry as an important part of its economic development plans.
The investment in Mopani is one of the projects expected to contribute to that target.
With production forecast to rise to 300,000 tons annually by 2029, the mine could account for a meaningful share of Zambia’s planned output expansion.
The broader Zambia Mining Investment strategy will also require production growth across other operations if the country is to reach its national target.
The partnership between IRH and ZCCM Investments Holdings is therefore significant beyond the ownership of a single mining company.
Their exploration of additional opportunities could create another channel for investment in mineral exploration and mining operations.
Still, the latest announcement remains an expression of interest in further collaboration, and the companies have not confirmed any new acquisitions.
IRH Zambia Mining Expansion Builds on African Minerals Strategy
International Resources Holding has been expanding its presence in Africa’s mineral resources industry.
Following its investment in Mopani, the company acquired a controlling stake in Alphamin Resources in 2025.
Alphamin owns the Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving IRH an additional position in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
The acquisition demonstrates that the company’s African mining activities are not limited to copper.
Its involvement in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo also reflects a broader interest in mineral-producing economies across the continent.
The proposed IRH Zambia Mining Expansion would build on that existing investment activity.
For Zambia, the partnership creates an opportunity to attract capital from an investor already involved in a major domestic copper operation.
For IRH, further collaboration with ZCCM Investments Holdings could provide access to additional mining opportunities, depending on the outcome of the discussions.
The Reuters report did not establish whether the companies are considering copper assets exclusively or exploring opportunities involving other minerals.
Zambia Mining Investment Attracts International Partnerships
The relationship between IRH and ZCCM Investments Holdings illustrates the role international investors can play in financing mining operations.
IRH’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Mopani followed Zambia’s earlier decision to take ownership of the mining business.
The subsequent partnership introduced a foreign investor into the operation while retaining a role for the Zambian state through ZCCM Investments Holdings.
That structure has provided a basis for continued collaboration.
The companies are now considering whether their relationship can support additional exploration and mining activities.
For Zambia Mining Investment, such partnerships can provide access to capital and commercial expertise needed for large-scale mining projects.
However, the economic impact of any future investment will depend on the assets selected, the terms agreed and the production outcomes achieved.
At this stage, the companies have announced discussions about potential opportunities rather than completed transactions.
The distinction matters because the scale and financial implications of any new investment cannot yet be determined.
What This Means For Africa
The proposed expansion of International Resources Holding’s mining activities in Zambia reflects the commercial importance of African mineral resources.
Zambia is a major copper producer, while the Democratic Republic of Congo is an important source of minerals used across industrial and technology supply chains.
IRH’s investments in Mopani Copper Mines and Alphamin Resources place the Emirati company in two significant African mining markets.
The latest announcement suggests that its involvement in the region could expand further.
For Zambia Mining Investment, the partnership with ZCCM Investments Holdings offers a potential route for additional capital to enter mineral exploration and production.
The importance of this investment activity is closely connected to Zambia’s goal of producing three million metric tons of copper annually by 2031.
Mopani’s forecast increase from 66,369 tons in 2025 to 300,000 tons in 2029 illustrates the scale of production growth being pursued at one major operation.
However, reaching the national target will require more than the expansion of Mopani alone.
Other mines and future projects will also need to contribute to the country’s planned increase in output.
The IRH Zambia Mining Expansion could support that process if the companies identify commercially viable opportunities and proceed with further investment.
The development also raises broader questions about how African governments structure partnerships with international mining investors.
Foreign capital can support production expansion, but the benefits to host countries depend on investment terms, operational performance and the economic activity generated.
For Zambia, the immediate priority remains translating existing commitments into higher copper output while assessing new opportunities for the sector.
For the wider continent, IRH’s involvement in copper and tin demonstrates continued international interest in African mineral assets.
The partnership’s next phase will become clearer when IRH and ZCCM Investments Holdings disclose specific projects or investment decisions.
Until then, the latest announcement represents a potential new chapter in Zambia Mining Investment, with the IRH Zambia Mining Expansion centred on opportunities beyond Mopani Copper Mines.
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