Copper: The DRC and Zambia's Battery Metal Dominance
The DRC and Zambia together hold the world's largest copper reserves and produce approximately 3 million tonnes annually. The energy transition's copper demand surge is accelerating investment in both countries.
The Copperbelt region straddling the DRC-Zambia border hosts the world's highest-grade copper deposits and accounts for approximately 30 percent of global copper production. The DRC produced approximately 2.2 million tonnes in 2023, making it the world's largest copper producer. Zambia produced approximately 800,000 tonnes, a figure targeted to reach 3 million tonnes annually by 2031 under an ambitious government expansion programme. Ivanhoe Mines's Kamoa-Kakula complex in DRC reached 400,000 tonnes in 2023 and is scaling to 620,000 tonnes, potentially making it the world's second-largest copper mine within five years.
The Energy Transition Driver
Each electric vehicle requires approximately 83 kilograms of copper, four times the copper content of a conventional vehicle. Wind turbines, solar panels, and grid infrastructure all require substantially more copper per unit of electricity than conventional energy systems. The IEA projects copper demand will increase 40 percent by 2040 in a net-zero scenario. African copper producers are the primary beneficiaries of this structural demand shift. Copper buyers and mining investors can access African sector contacts and production data on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.