Copper Mining in Zambia : Regulatory Efficiency Assessment in the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces – World Bank Group

Zambia is Africa’s second-largest and the world’s ninth-largest copper producer, with the mining sector playing a central role in national economic development. In support of this strategic industry, the Government of Zambia has set an ambitious target to increase copper production to three million tonnes annually by 2031, supported by policies intended to stimulate investment in exploration, mining, processing, and related services.

The report Copper Mining in Zambia: Regulatory Efficiency Assessment in the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces, developed as a pilot initiative by the World Bank Group, examines the effectiveness of the regulatory framework governing copper mining activities. While Zambia has established laws aimed at promoting sustainable development and economic diversification, the assessment finds that licensing processes and regulatory procedures remain complex and inefficient, creating uncertainty for both existing mining companies and potential new investors.

Focusing specifically on exploration and mining licences, the study analyses how regulatory processes function in practice at the regional level. The assessment applies a sector-specific adaptation of the Subnational Business Ready methodology to evaluate the business environment in the Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces, two of the country’s principal mining regions.

Based on data collected through surveys and interviews conducted between June and September 2025 with industry participants and stakeholders, the report provides an evidence-based analysis of regulatory performance and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, transparency, and alignment with international best practice in the mining sector.