4
On October 23, 2026, Wang Zhiwei, Vice President of Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd. (“Sinomine Resource”) and General Manager of the South-Central Africa Regional Operations Center, held separate meetings in Lusaka with Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambia's Minister of Finance, and Justin C. Loongo, Managing Director of Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO). Discussions focused on progress at the Kitumba mining project, the development of the Kitumba Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and reliable power supply.
Advancing the Kitumba Project and Special Economic Zone
During his meeting with Dr. Musokotwane, Wang briefed the minister on the Kitumba project's construction progress and strategic significance. As a flagship project for China-Zambia resource cooperation, Kitumba represents a total investment of approximately US$600 million, of which US$410 million has been invested to date.
The project's supporting 50 MW solar power plant has been connected to the grid, and the processing plant successfully commenced operations in September 2026. Construction of the smelter is progressing at full pace. Once fully developed, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to Zambia's ambitious target of producing 3 million tonnes of copper annually.
The project has created nearly 4,000 local jobs, contributing to employment and improved livelihoods in surrounding communities.
Regarding the Kitumba SEZ, Wang noted that the company had completed substantial preliminary work on zone planning and industrial attraction. He expressed hope for stronger tax incentives to attract more upstream and downstream businesses, foster industrial clusters, and further enhance the project's broader economic impact.
Dr. Musokotwane commended the project's rapid progress and significant achievements, expressing appreciation for Sinomine Resource's contributions to Zambia's economic development and people's livelihoods. He said the Zambian government would actively support matters related to the SEZ and looked forward to working with Sinomine Resource to promote the high-quality development of Zambia's copper industry, advance industrialization and urbanization, and extend the local industrial value chain.
ZESCO Pledges Support for Reliable Power Supply
Later that day, Wang met with ZESCO Managing Director Justin C. Loongo. Wang explained that the Kitumba project had entered a critical phase of ramping up production and achieving stable, full-capacity operations. Reliable power supply, he emphasized, is essential to the project's success and to Zambia's broader copper production targets. He called on ZESCO to prioritize the project in power dispatch and supply.
Loongo responded positively, pledging ZESCO's full support for the project's electricity needs. He described Kitumba as a key industrial project for Zambia and said ZESCO would establish close communication and coordination with the project team to ensure a stable and continuous power supply, supporting smooth operations and contributing to Zambia's economic prosperity.
The meetings strengthened communication and mutual trust between Sinomine Resource, the Zambian government, and a key national infrastructure provider. They also helped create a more supportive environment for the stable operation of the company's Zambian projects and the advancement of the Kitumba SEZ.
