Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding (IRH) has declined Zambia’s latest copper concentrate export waiver allocation, even after being awarded the largest single quota under a government scheme aimed at easing smelter bottlenecks in the country’s mining sector.
According to reports, Zambia suspended a 10% export duty on nearly 272,000 tonnes of copper concentrate from June 1 to September 30, 2026, as part of a temporary measure to help miners clear stockpiles while domestic smelters undergo maintenance and operational disruptions.
The waiver allows qualifying producers to export concentrate duty-free through state-linked trading channels, primarily Industrial Resources Ltd.
Under the allocation system, Mopani Copper Mines—majority owned by IRH—was assigned the largest share at about 100,000 tonnes, reflecting its position as one of Zambia’s key copper producers. However, the company has once again opted not to participate in the export scheme.
IRH’s decision mirrors its stance in previous waiver rounds, including allocations issued in 2025 and earlier in 2026, where it also declined to export concentrate despite being eligible.
The company maintains that it intends to process all its copper output domestically through its own smelting operations rather than export raw concentrate, according to industry reports.
Analysts say the repeated refusal underscores a long-term strategic shift by IRH toward vertical integration in Zambia’s copper value chain.
Rather than taking advantage of short-term export opportunities, Mopani is prioritising the development and utilisation of its processing infrastructure to retain more value within the country.
The decision comes at a time when Zambia’s smelting capacity is under pressure. Planned maintenance shutdowns, including at key facilities such as Konkola Copper Mines’ smelter, have constrained the country’s ability to process all mined concentrate locally, prompting the government to introduce temporary export relief measures to prevent production bottlenecks.
Other major miners, including Barrick’s Lumwana operations and First Quantum Minerals, are expected to utilise portions of their allocated export quotas during the waiver period, helping to offset the processing shortfall.
IRH’s position highlights a broader tension in Zambia’s mining policy: balancing the need for immediate export flexibility during smelter disruptions with the long-term goal of expanding domestic refining capacity. While the waiver is designed as a temporary “pressure-release” mechanism, Mopani’s strategy suggests confidence that local processing will remain central to its investment model.
The development also reflects growing interest among global mining investors in controlling more of the copper value chain, particularly as demand for refined copper continues to rise in energy, infrastructure and electric mobility sectors.
For now, Zambia’s waiver system continues to function as a stopgap measure to manage concentrate flows—but IRH’s repeated refusal signals that not all producers see short-term export relief as aligned with their long-term industrial strategy.