Zambia extended 10% copper export tax relief to deadline to address the growing stockpile of unprocessed copper concentrates resulting from disruptions at local smelters.
Zambia has extended the suspension of its 10% export tax on copper concentrates until 31 December 2025. The measure, initially announced in August 2025 for a three-month period, is intended to address the growing stockpile of unprocessed copper concentrates resulting from disruptions at local smelters.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Dr. Hapenga Kabeta, said the extension follows continued maintenance work at the Chambishi Copper Smelter and ongoing technical challenges at the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) smelter, which have reduced the country’s overall smelting capacity. Mining companies had requested the extension, citing the technical difficulties, and the government granted it to allow operations to stabilise by the end of the year.
Dr. Kabeta highlighted the importance of long-term measures to expand Zambia’s smelting and refining capacity. He noted that reaching the country’s target of three million tonnes of annual copper production will require sustained investment in new processing infrastructure.
