Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding (IRH) and Zambia’s state mining investor ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) reaffirmed their partnership in Mopani Copper Mines on 14 October, with IRH recommitting $1.1 billion in equity, shareholder funding and operational support. IRH bought 51% of Mopani in 2024, and the partners aim to produce 300,000 tonnes of finished copper a year by 2029. The joint statement follows ZCCM-IH’s accusation in late September that an IRH unit had failed to meet funding and operating obligations, and its threat of arbitration. The recommitment lowers the risk of a legal fight over one of Zambia’s largest mines, a test for the Gulf investors the government is courting to raise copper output.
Sources
- ZCCM-IH press release (official): https://www.actusnews.com/en/zccm/pr/2026/10/14/press-release-irh-and-zccm-ih-reaffirm-partnership-to-grow-mopani-and-deliver-lasting-benefits-for-zambians
- Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-14/zambia-irh-reaffirm-copper-partnership-after-alleged-breaches
- Mining.com.au: https://mining.com.au/irh-zccm-ih-reaffirm-mopani-copper-partnership/
- Miningmx (background): https://www.miningmx.com/trending/67576-zambias-zccm-ih-accuses-abu-dhabi-irh-of-mopani-breaches/