An exploration company ARC Minerals has reached a comprehensive settlement agreement that resolves all outstanding legal disputes in Zambia, removing a major overhang on the company’s copper exploration interests in the country.
The settlement brings to an end a long-running legal conflict involving former associates and the Zambia Mineral Exchange Corporation Limited (Zamex), which had triggered several court actions and claims linked to earlier agreements involving the company’s Zambian assets.
In a statement, Arc Minerals said the agreement resolves “all outstanding litigation matters in Zambia” and provides clarity for the company as it continues to focus on copper exploration activities in the Central African Copperbelt.
The dispute had centred on allegations of breaches relating to a 2022 settlement agreement that had been incorporated into a consent judgment by the Zambian High Court.
In 2024, Zamex filed a writ seeking to recover up to US$650,000 in alleged damages from Arc Minerals, its joint venture company Handa Resources Limited and others.
Arc Minerals had consistently challenged the claims, arguing that there had been no default on its part and describing the legal actions as “spurious and vexatious.” The company also maintained that its licences, operations and joint venture interests in Zambia remained unaffected throughout the dispute.
The latest agreement follows several favourable court developments for Arc Minerals over the past year. Earlier, the High Court in Zambia granted the company an interim injunction restraining interference with its existing and future mining licences and applications.
The injunction also protected the interests of the company’s joint venture with a subsidiary of Anglo American.
In August 2025, the Zambian High Court further ruled that the March 2022 consent judgment had effectively closed the court record and that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain additional applications related to the matter. Arc Minerals said the ruling strengthened its defence against claims brought by a former director and Zamex.
Executive chairman Nick von Schirnding welcomed the latest settlement, saying it allows the company to move forward and concentrate on advancing its exploration portfolio.
The legal resolution is expected to improve investor confidence in Arc Minerals, which holds interests in copper and cobalt exploration projects in Zambia and Botswana.
The company’s Zambian assets are considered prospective due to their location within the Copperbelt, one of the world’s most significant copper-producing regions.
The dispute had previously cast uncertainty over some of Arc Minerals’ operations and came during a challenging period for the company, including the eventual end of its exploration joint venture with Anglo American in Zambia last year.
Despite those setbacks, Arc Minerals has continued to reposition itself around exploration opportunities in the region, including projects in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt. The company recently raised £3 million to fund exploration activities and geophysical work ahead of planned drilling campaigns.
The settlement now clears a significant legal hurdle for the miner as global demand for copper continues to rise, driven by the energy transition and growing investment in electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure.
