Government has extended the suspension of the 10 percent export tax on copper concentrates beyond the initial three months, with the measure now set to remain in effect until the end of december 2025.
Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Dr. Hapenga Kabeta says the decision follows continued maintenance works at Chambishi Copper Smelter and ongoing technical challenges at the Konkola Copper Mines-KCM smelter, which have significantly reduced the country’s overall smelting capacity.
The suspension, which was first announced in August this year, was initially intended to last for three months to help ease the growing stockpile of unprocessed Copper concentrates caused by disruptions at local smelters as mining companies refrained from exporting under the tax burden, which would otherwise result in financial losses.
Dr. Kabeta explains that mining companies appealed to the government for an extension, citing the ongoing technical difficulties, and the request has since been granted to allow operations to stabilize by year-end.
He has, however, emphasized the need for long-term measures to expand Zambia’s smelting and refining capacity, noting that achieving the country’s three million-ton annual Copper production target will require sustained investment in new processing infrastructure.
-Phoenix FM