India has resumed discussions with Zambia on potential investments in copper and other critical minerals, reviving efforts to secure overseas supplies as demand for raw materials grows in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
Officials from India’s Ministry of Mines held preliminary discussions with their Zambian counterparts on August 26, according to two people familiar with the talks who requested anonymity because the discussions were confidential.
One source said the latest discussions did not involve an earlier project that had caused negotiations between the two countries to stall.
The renewed engagement comes months after India and Zambia reached an impasse over mining rights covering an area of about 9,000 square kilometres awarded to India last year for mineral exploration.
Reuters reported in April that New Delhi had sought assurances from Lusaka over its rights to the area. The issue was not discussed during the latest meeting, according to one of the sources.
Neither government has publicly confirmed the latest discussions. India’s Ministry of Mines did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while a spokesperson for Zambia’s Ministry of Mines said the ministry could not confirm the talks.
The renewed talks reflect India’s broader push to secure supplies of minerals considered essential to its industrial and energy ambitions.
Zambia, along with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, is viewed as an important potential source of copper and cobalt, minerals used in electricity infrastructure, manufacturing, batteries and other technologies.
India is increasingly looking beyond its borders as it seeks to reduce supply risks. State-owned Khanij Bidesh India Ltd, the country’s main vehicle for securing critical mineral assets overseas, is evaluating opportunities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia and Indonesia, while also holding discussions over a project in Malawi.
New Delhi has separately been pursuing mineral opportunities in Africa, Australia and Latin America through government-to-government arrangements.
The urgency is particularly evident in copper. India is the world’s second-largest buyer of refined copper, while its reliance on imports has increased following the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper smelter in 2018.
The Indian government estimates that the country could need to import between 91% and 97% of its copper concentrate requirements by 2047.
Industry representatives say India’s overseas strategy should focus on projects capable of delivering supplies relatively quickly. A spokesperson for the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries said, “We believe Indian companies should primarily be encouraged to pursue brownfield and near-production projects, along with long-term offtake arrangements.”
For Zambia, the renewed Indian interest comes as the country seeks investment to expand copper production and capture greater value from its mineral resources.
Zambia is targeting copper output of three million tonnes a year by 2031, more than triple its 2025 production of about 890,000 tonnes, while also seeking to develop deposits of cobalt and other critical minerals.
The latest talks therefore offer a potential opening for closer India-Zambia mining cooperation, although the absence of a public agreement means the scale and nature of any future investment remain uncertain.
