Zambia Secures USTDA Funding for Copper-Cobalt Processing Facility

Zambia’s copper and cobalt ambitions received a major boost this weekend as the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded funding for a feasibility study to expand Metalex Africa’s processing facility. The project, located in the Copperbelt, aims to increase output of battery-grade materials critical to global EV supply chains.

The funding signals renewed U.S. interest in African critical minerals, especially as geopolitical tensions reshape sourcing strategies. Metalex Africa, a subsidiary of Texas-based Metalex Commodities, will use the study to assess infrastructure upgrades, environmental safeguards, and export logistics.

Zambia’s government hailed the move as a strategic win for its mineral beneficiation agenda, with President Hichilema emphasizing the importance of value addition and regional competitiveness.