Africa Copper

Africa sits at the heart of the global copper crisis, holding what may be our best hope for meeting surging demand. The continent's copper belt, stretching across Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), contains nearly 40% of the world's remaining copper reserves, with the DRC alone holding an estimated 90 million metric tons of copper ore. Current production from the region – about 2.2 million metric tons annually from the DRC and 800,000 metric tons from Zambia – represents just a fraction of its potential. The region's significance is growing rapidly: the DRC has increased its copper production by 250% since 2010, and new discoveries in the West African Copper Belt suggest even greater untapped potential. This African copper wealth becomes even more critical when considering the declining ore grades in Chile and Peru, which currently dominate global production but face increasing extraction challenges. With global copper demand projected to reach 53 million metric tons by 2050, developing Africa's copper resources isn't just an opportunity – it's a necessity for meeting our clean energy goals. However, realizing this potential requires overcoming significant infrastructure challenges, political stability concerns, and the need for massive capital investment in the region.