Nationalizing Zambia s copper mines
The Zambian government has taken over operations at a major copper mining company in what is seen as a move towards increasing its direct control of the key mining sector. Economists are urging Lusaka to tread carefully.
The COVID pandemic has led to job losses in Zambia s mining industry
Economists in Zambia paid close attention when the government announced that it would acquire Mopani Copper Mines Limited. The copper and cobalt exporting firm is jointly operated by companies based in Switzerland and Canada. The Zambian government owns only 10% of the company.
There had been a string of conflicts with the Swiss-based Glencore plc and Canada-based First Quantum Minerals Limited over a temporary shutdown of its mines in the northern Copperbelt Province. The points of contention were due to the COVID pandemic and retrenchments, taxes, and electricity pricing.