Mopani Copper Mines : Unearthing Zambian Prosperity

A SECTOR ON THE RISE

The mining industry is currently experiencing a swathe of growth and renewed prosperity.

“At present, we are seeing gold prices soar with silver following, whilst the price of copper continues to break records,” Sakanya sets out.

“With the sustained growth of the power industry and rise of EVs, there has been talk of new substitute metals in order to deal with the high demand, but so far nothing has beaten the famous red metal yet, which remains essential across numerous sectors,” he continues.

As such, copper is critical to the construction of solar panels, acting as the primary metal for high-efficiency electrical conductivity in wiring, busbars, and connectors within the panels.

It ensures minimal energy loss, handles high heat, and enables durable, long-term operation – the metal is used extensively in both photovoltaic (PV) cells and solar thermal systems.

“When we talk about EVs and the use of solar power, both of these fields require copper to manufacture components used in the instrumentation and digital industries.”

Due to surging requirements, many studies have predicted a seismic shortfall in copper production over the next decade by over 10 million t.

In the last few years, barely any new mines have opened in order to close that gap, hence the significant rise in price and global demand for this precious metal.

In a proactive step towards meeting this shortfall, Zambia has conducted a series of remote sensing operations using state-of-the-art technology mounted in aircraft for aerial electromagnetic surveys which are currently taking place.

“It takes a lot of time to start up a new mine that can eventually produce copper cathodes. From the very beginning, one starts with feasibility studies, exploration, and planning, before presenting a bankable document, so you are already looking at a process that takes several years to complete,” Sakanya outlines.

A complete mine cycle from exploration to operation can sometimes take 10 to 12 years, meaning that responding to demand can be a slow and gradual process.

“As long as we continue to embrace EV technology, digital infrastructure, and solar power, the precious red metal is certainly here to stay,” he confirms.

STRIVING FOR ZERO HARM

As an integral pillar of the company’s beliefs and part of its ongoing strategic goals, Sakanya has recently reaffirmed Mopani’s unwavering commitment to ‘Vision Zero’, achieving zero harm across its mining operations.

He adamantly believes this goal will be made possible through a combination of innovation, technology, and a strong culture of teamwork.

In a speech delivered on his behalf at the 9th Zambia Chamber of Mines Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) National Conference, held in July 2025 at the Protea Hotel in Ndola, Sakanya said the company was working round the clock to attain a benchmark of zero harm across all its assets going forward.

“To us at Mopani, Vision Zero is not just a goal – it’s a commitment that defines how we work, how we make decisions, and how we engage with our stakeholders and the community at large,” he says.

“We believe workplace incidents, occupational illnesses, and environmental harm are all preventable, and this philosophy has driven our company’s safety initiatives and transformation programmes so far.”

Amongst the key initiatives highlighted was Mopani’s flagship Safemining Campaign, anchored on strict adherence to fatal hazard protocols – a common cause of mine accidents – and their associated life-saving behaviours.

As such, employees are continuously empowered to refuse unsafe work, guided by the company’s powerful safety motto – ‘If it’s not safe, don’t do it. Make it safe, then do it’.

At the event, Sakanya also proudly reported steady improvement in Mopani’s safety performance, revealing that the company’s 12-month lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) stood at 0.74 as of the end of Q3 2025.

Highlighting Mopani’s drive for innovation, the company is also investing heavily in digital technologies to enhance safety and productivity.

“We have already deployed fibre optic Wi-Fi connectivity, wireless radio communication, and AI-based systems at our South Ore Body (SOB) underground mine, connecting our underground operations to the outside world in real time,” Sakanya reveals.

A strong advocate for the progression of both Mopani and the entire mining landscape, Sakanya promotes a message of optimism and unity for the entire industry.

“Through our collective efforts, we can build a thriving and resilient mining sector where HSE is the norm and Vision Zero is a reality,” he affirms.

TUKACHIMFYA PAMO

At the same event last year, Sakanya also highlighted the company’s new corporate culture transformation programme, ‘TukaChimfya Pamo’ – a Bemba phrase meaning ‘together, we shall conquer’, which has become somewhat of a company mantra.

The exciting new initiative aims to strengthen teamwork, ownership, and continuous improvement across all levels of the company and throughout its workforce.

“Through TukaChimfya Pamo, we aim to foster a strong culture of togetherness where every employee feels empowered to act with urgency, a sense of ownership, and a commitment to continuous improvement,” he explains.

Rolled out as part of Mopani’s broader strategy for promoting behavioural change, the initiative focuses on embedding newly co-created shared values and behaviours across both the organisation and in the surrounding community.

These values, amongst other things, emphasise a culture of business wise, enablement and empowerment, HSE, and togetherness through teamwork in day-to-day operations.

Alongside this, the bold new campaign aims to promote a healthy culture of continuous learning and innovation which will incite positive influence across every facet of the business.

After being unveiled in 2024, Mopani rolled out a series of roadshows at the workplace and in the community to raise awareness around key messages of the TukaChimfya Pamo culture transformation.

A team of local artists, operating as the Kolonganeni Industrial Theatre Group, then conducted industrial plays to highlight various aspects of the initiative both at Mopani workplaces and at strategic locations in the communities of Kitwe and Mufulira.

Before performing, the theatre group completed a five-day formal training programme at Mopani’s People Growth Centre, located at the Mindola Dam in Kitwe, to acquaint themselves with the key messages, pillars, vision, and values of TukaChimfya Pamo.

CONQUERING TOGETHER

When expanding its team and recruiting new members of staff, finding the right people who will slot seamlessly into the business is an essential priority for Mopani and Sakanya.

New team members must fit culturally within the company and align with its core beliefs and set of values if they are to be trusted to uphold the proud Mopani name and standards.

“We look for people of integrity, a quality which is really important to us,” Sakanya affirms.

“A successful candidate must share our vision as well as being honest, hard-working, and skilled.”

For school leavers, Mopani takes people at a lower level and trains them internally, shaping them into the very fabric of the business and instilling the values of TukaChimfya Pamo.

“When we recruit externally, candidates must first be correctly qualified and knowledgeable, but honesty and integrity remain paramount,” he enthuses.

“People development and growth is integral to our success and a crucial strategic imperative for the business – Mopani employees are our most valuable asset.”