{
  "id": 10625702,
  "title": "Zambia Tells Copper Miners to Buy Local While Courting UAE Investors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/zambia-tells-copper-miners-to-buy-local-while-courting-uae-investors",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T06:14:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/zambia-mining-local-content-law-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, addressed copper mining firms during his visit to Abu Dhabi on 28 September 2025. The meeting took place between Hichilema and Ali Rashed Alrashdi, CEO of International Resources Holding (IRH), which owns a 51% stake in Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines. The visit followed the 13 August general election, which saw Hichilema take office on 1 September after a contested vote.\n\nThe discussion centered on Zambia's local content law, a regulation that mandates copper firms to source an increasing share of core goods and services from Zambian-owned businesses. The law, set out in Statutory Instrument No. 68 of 2025, came into effect on 1 January 2026. Initially, mines must source 20% of core products and services from Zambian-owned and citizen-empowered companies, which will rise to 40% by the same date. All non-core services, such as catering, security, and haulage, are reserved for local companies. Additionally, Zambian bidders receive preferential pricing when contracts are evaluated.\n\nHichilema emphasized the importance of local content rules, stating that they aim to ensure more Zambians participate in and benefit from the mining industry. He highlighted that increasing copper production to three million tonnes a year is crucial for Zambia's Grow Zambia agenda. Mopani Copper Mines, a key player in reaching this target, is under pressure from IRH, as revealed in a September 18 letter reported by Bloomberg. ZCCM-IH, the government's mining investment company, accused IRH's Delta Mining unit of failing to provide required equity funding, taking on debt without approval, and missing output targets.\n\nIRH responded by stating it was addressing the issues through normal shareholder talks. Following the meeting, Hichilema stressed the importance of complying with the local content law to ensure more contracts go to Zambian businesses. The visit also included discussions with Sheikh Mohamed, the signing of memoranda of understanding, and a Zambia-UAE business and investment forum. Mining and mineral processing were among the priority areas for the talks.\n\nLocal content rules are not unique to Zambia; other African countries, such as South Africa, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have implemented similar measures to keep mineral value within their borders. These rules include export limits, local processing requirements, and procurement quotas. However, experts warn that improperly designed quotas can reward local middlemen who import goods without adding value. The success of Zambia's local content implementation will be determined by the industry's ability to meet the 20% core procurement share this year, as monitored through audit results.",
  "summary": "On his first trip abroad since re-election, Hakainde Hichilema pressed the Abu Dhabi owner of Mopani Copper Mines on Zambia's local content law. The rules reserve non-core mine work for Zambian firms. The post Zambia Tells Copper Miners to Buy Local While Courting UAE Investors appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}