International Resources Holding (IRH), an Abu Dhabi based mining company, and Zambia’s state owned ZCCM Investments Holdings are exploring new mining opportunities, building on their partnership at Mopani Copper Mines.
The collaboration comes two years after IRH pledged $1.1 billion to support the revival of Mopani, one of Zambia’s major copper producers.
In 2024, IRH acquired a 51% stake in Mopani after the Zambian government took control of the mining company in 2021. The partnership is part of Zambia’s wider strategy to expand copper production and strengthen its position in the global minerals market.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the companies said they were considering further cooperation in mineral exploration and broader mining operations beyond Mopani as published by Reuters.
Mopani produced 66,369 metric tonnes of copper in 2025 and has set a target of reaching annual production of 300,000 tonnes by 2029. The expansion is expected to contribute to Zambia’s ambition of increasing national copper output to three million tonnes annually by 2031.
IRH, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s 2PointZero Group, has also expanded its presence in Africa’s critical minerals industry. In 2025, it acquired a controlling stake in Alphamin Resources, which operates the Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The latest discussions could deepen the partnership between IRH and Zambia as the country seeks investment, increased mineral production and a stronger role in the global supply of copper and other strategic resources.
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