On April 2, 2025, Ivanhoe announced it had secured exploration licenses covering 7,757 square kilometers in Zambia’s North West Province.

The newly acquired Zambian concession lies 230 kilometers northeast of Ivanhoe’s Western Forelands project in the DRC. The company emphasizes geological similarities between this area and copper-rich discoveries in the DRC, particularly at Kamoa-Kakula. Ivanhoe is betting on the continuity of the Central African Copperbelt, which spans both nations.

“Our entrance into Zambia marks an exciting new chapter in Ivanhoe Mines’ commitment to expanding our exploration footprint and testing the extent of the Central African Copperbelt…which is already the world’s largest and highest-grade sedimentary Copperbelt,” said Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s Executive Chairman.

The key question is whether Ivanhoe can replicate its DRC success in Zambia. At Kamoa-Kakula, Ivanhoe boasts an annual production capacity of 600,000 tonnes of copper, with plans to exceed 800,000 tonnes over time. Even if Zambia does not reach these figures, success there would diversify Ivanhoe’s copper production, which currently relies entirely on the DRC.

Ivanhoe Mines is poised to make significant progress on its Zambian concession in the coming months, with key preparatory steps underway. During the second quarter of 2025, the company plans to hire environmental consultants to draft an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which will be submitted for approval to the Zambian Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). 

In parallel, Ivanhoe is analyzing aeronautical geophysical data from the concession to design a feed program using the tariff and Air Core drilling methods. This process will enable its team of geologists to conduct detailed mapping of the expansive licensed area, identifying initial targets for future diamond drilling. The results of these operations will provide critical insights into the concession’s resource potential, shaping Ivanhoe’s exploration strategy and investment decisions.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum