Abu Dhabi’s IRH Seeks Further Mining Investments in Zambia

International Resources Holding (IRH), an Abu Dhabi-based mining investor, is exploring additional mining opportunities in Zambia in partnership with state-owned ZCCM Investments Holdings, as the country seeks to expand copper production and attract investment into its mineral sector.

The announcement comes two years after IRH committed $1.1 billion to revive Mopani Copper Mines, where the Emirati company acquired a strategic 51% stake in 2024. Zambia had taken control of the copper producer three years earlier.

In a joint statement issued on 14 October 2026, the companies said they were exploring further collaboration in mineral exploration and broader mining operations beyond Mopani.

Mopani produced 66,369 metric tonnes of copper in 2025 and has forecast annual output of 300,000 tonnes by 2029. Achieving this target would represent a substantial increase in production and support Zambia’s ambition to raise national copper output to three million tonnes annually by 2031.

The expansion of IRH’s activities in Zambia forms part of its wider strategy to increase its presence in Africa’s critical minerals sector. Following its Mopani investment, the company acquired a controlling stake in tin producer Alphamin Resources in 2025. Alphamin owns the Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the region’s significant tin-producing operations.

Further cooperation between IRH and ZCCM-IH could create additional opportunities for mineral exploration, mine development and investment in Zambia’s mining industry. However, the companies have not yet disclosed specific projects, investment commitments or timelines for the proposed collaboration.

The potential expansion comes as Zambia works to increase copper production, attract international capital and strengthen the mining sector’s contribution to economic growth and export earnings.