Q1. Could you elaborate on the nature and strategic objectives of the partnership between Terra Metals Limited and Metalex Commodities Inc.? 

 The objective of the partnership between Terra metals and Metalex commodities is to develop a large-scale mining and local processing project in Mwinilunga district of Northwestern Province. The initial part of the partnership involves building a 240 ton/hr  copper cobalt concentrator that will produce about a 100, 000 tons of concentrates per year and eventually lead to the production of 500, 000 tons concentrates per year. The license allows us to invest in exploration of resources in authorized areas and investing in infrastructure and road works from the site to the main plant. The partnership is also designed to benefit the community by hiring local first, protecting the environment by being carbon neutral and expanding investment in local industries such as beekeeping, farming and animal husbandry. The idea is to use the mine as a focal point of creating a thriving economy that will exist long after the mine life expires.  

Zambia’s Role in Global Supply Chains 

Q2. How does Zambia’s position as a supplier of raw materials and critical minerals contribute to global market stability, and what factors influence its reliability? 

 Zambia is a top 10 producer of copper, one of the most important metals in the world.  The global copper market is somewhere in the 23 million tons per year and Zambia produces about 800 000 tons a year. Another way is to say Zambia represents about 4% of the global market – hence positioning Zambia as a key player on the global copper market. In terms of its reliability, the president of Zambia has stated his objectives to reach at least 3 million tons or about 15% of the global market. This implies that, Zambia has positioned itself to not just be the source of raw materials such as cobalt, lithium and manganese but to also become a regional destination for mineral processing. Over the years, Zambia has also continued to develop its talent pool in metallurgy, metal fabrication, and process engineering.  

Sustainable and Equitable Mining Practices 

Q3.What are the key challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable and equitable mineral extraction in the mining industry? 

In my view, most mining companies follow a zero- sum game type of business model, So achieving equitable mining practices is a big challenge. To often, companies win and communities lose.  So, what we are trying to do is to say, look, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can set things up in such a way that it’s a true win- win, this way companies win while countries get their taxes and share of wealth. At Lunda Resources, we make sure that we build circularity into our business model. So, for example, our mine overburden is being converted into affordable bricks for affordable housing and we are also developing carbon credit projects in different parts of Zambia with the Express goal of achieving carbon neutrality in our operation and then surplus credits will be sold to raise carbon finance to develop local industries.  

  U.S.-Africa Relations and Trade 

Q4 . Given recent tensions in U.S.-Africa relations, such as travel restrictions, how can enhanced trade cooperation help mitigate these challenges? 

 I think trade can enhance diplomatic relations unfortunately   the current policy environment in the US for example, is still waiting to be settled. It’s still waiting to be defined. But generally speaking, I think increased trade relations will positively influence, you know relationships between the US and African countries. And I think our partnership with Terra Metals is an example of these types of things.  

Renewable Energy in Mining Operations 

Q5. Lunda Resources’ 10-megawatt solar and storage facility is a pioneering project in Zambia. What were the cost-benefit considerations behind this shift, and should other mining companies adopt similar renewable energy solutions? 

Although, solar power is slightly more expensive than getting grid power, Renewable energy for us I think is a no-brainer. Our own solar plant is a source of Energy independence. The security of energy supply makes up for the high cost of solar. The other thing is, we are able to get renewable energy credits from building solar power, that provides a subsidy for some of the solar energy that we are going to be building. So, at the end of the day, it makes sense. It’s good for the environment and we think it’s the right way to do business 

 Investment and Infrastructure in African Mining 

Q6. What key infrastructure and policy improvements are needed to attract greater foreign investment into Africa’s mining sector, particularly in critical minerals? 

 I think they are very simple policies that can be implemented to encourage investments. For example, the policy of free repatriation of capital- implying that when investors bring money in, they would like to get their money out. So, a free repatriation of capital is something that is critical for African countries to implement. Though that shouldn’t be seen as investors looking to take their money and run.  Furthermore, effective tax policies where, for example, you don’t just give tax breaks because companies are offering jobs. You give tax breaks for economic impact. So, for example, if we spent X amount of dollars to help develop a beekeeping industry around the communities that surround us and it gives a thousand people jobs that pay maybe 500 dollars a month, some of those numbers should be deductible from our tax burden.  so, tax policies should incentivize shared value-shared value meaning companies who are deliberate about leaving some of the value that they are getting behind.  A third recommendation would be, you know, ease of importation, I think there is a lot of complexity around importation that could be simpler. And, because those complexities hinder the forward progress of businesses. 

Global Demand and African Mineral Supply Chains 

Q7. With rising global demand for critical minerals, how can African nations like Zambia strengthen their supply chains to compete more effectively in the international market? 

In a country like Zambia that is a land- linked, one of the things that should be emphasized is infrastructure. So, road networks and rails are in place, it makes it easy for companies to invest and evacuate some of the materials that they are getting. Another critical opportunity in my view is upskilling people to be able to produce some of the equipment locally. A lot of equipment used in mining, things like ball mills and crushers can be produced locally. Another thing is to deliberately incentivize or help the with the development of companies that work on precursors, things like steel and chemicals and reagents and to make those things in Zambia, I think that would make Zambia’s critical metals, industry grew very quickly.