African Mining Week Set to Spotlight M&A in Copper Industry
Deal News | Jun 18, 2025 | EIN
The upcoming African Mining Week, scheduled for October 13, 2025, in Cape Town, will focus on the ongoing merger and acquisition (M&A) deals fueling the African copper industry's growth. The conference will host a session titled 'The Copper Scramble: How Mergers are Reshaping the Global Supply Chain' to analyze the impact of M&A activities in the sector, as well as to spotlight recent deals and investment prospects. The article highlights Zambia's ambitious plan to produce three million tons of copper annually by 2031 and mentions significant deals such as International Resource Holdings' acquisition of the Mopani Mine for $1.1 billion. This move is expected to boost production significantly in the coming years. Additionally, in Botswana, BHP's investment in Cobre Limited underscores the growing exploration and production activities in the Kalahari Copper Belt. International investors are increasingly looking toward Africa for high-value M&A opportunities, enhancing the continent's role in the global copper supply chain.
Sectors
- Mining
- Energy
Geography
- Africa – The article focuses on the African continent as a key region for copper mining and M&A activity.
- Zambia – Specifically mentioned as a major player in the copper industry with multiple ongoing M&A transactions.
- Botswana – Identified as a region of significant recent M&A activity within the mining sector, notably in the Kalahari Copper Belt.
Industry
- Mining – The article discusses the copper mining industry in Africa, including mergers and acquisitions among major copper producers.
- Energy – The emphasis on the global energy transition and industrial demands underlines the growing importance of copper in the energy sector.
Financials
- $1.1 billion – Acquisition cost of Mopani Mine by International Resource Holdings.
- $300 million – Investment by JCHX Mining Management into Zambia's Lubambe Mine.
- $2 billion – Commitment by KoBold Metals for the Dumbwa and Konkola West projects.
- $25 million – Investment by BHP for exploration in Botswana's Cobre Limited.
- $700 million – Investment by MMG Limited to double production at Khoemacau Mine.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Resource Holdings | Acquirer | Company | UAE-based company that acquired Zambia's Mopani Mine for $1.1 billion to boost copper production. |
| JCHX Mining Management | Acquirer | Company | Chinese company acquiring Zambia's Lubambe Mine with a $300 million investment. |
| KoBold Metals | Acquirer | Company | U.S.-based startup investing over $2 billion into Dumbwa and Konkola West projects in Zambia. |
| BHP | Investor/Acquirer | Company | Investing in Botswana's Cobre Limited to access Tier 1 copper assets in the Kalahari Copper Belt. |
| MMG Limited | Acquirer | Company | Chinese company investing $700 million to double output at Botswana's Khoemacau Mine. |
| APO Group | Distributor | Company | Distributed the news on behalf of Energy Capital & Power. |