India has sent a team of geologists to Zambia to investigate potential copper and cobalt deposits, according to two Indian government sources, as part of its broader push to secure critical minerals vital for its clean energy transition.
Earlier this year, the Zambian government granted India access to 9,000 square kilometers of land for exploration. The project focuses on cobalt—an essential element in batteries used for electric vehicles and mobile phones—as well as copper, a key material in power generation, electronics, and construction.
The exploration initiative is set to span three years, with most of the sample analysis taking place in Indian laboratories, one of the sources said. The team is expected to make multiple site visits throughout the duration of the project, the sources added, speaking on condition of anonymity as the details are not yet public.
Upon completion of the initial survey, India intends to apply for a mining lease from Zambian authorities. The government may also invite private-sector firms to join the venture, according to the same sources.
India’s Ministry of Mines has not issued a formal response to requests for comment.
New Delhi has been actively engaging with several African nations to secure mineral resources through government-to-government agreements. Simultaneously, it is exploring opportunities in resource-rich regions like Australia and Latin America.
In March, Reuters reported that India is also in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo to establish a preliminary agreement for access to cobalt and copper supplies. An Indian delegation visited Congo last month for a mining conference and conducted site inspections, the Ministry of Mines confirmed via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Amid internal discussions, Indian officials have expressed concern over the country’s growing exposure to the tightening global copper market. Strategies to ensure steady mineral supplies are being considered as part of ongoing trade negotiations, Reuters reported last week.
India’s reliance on copper imports has increased significantly since the 2018 shutdown of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, copper imports reached 1.2 million metric tons—marking a 4% year-on-year rise.
India also remains heavily dependent on cobalt imports, with inbound shipments of cobalt oxide climbing 20% in 2024–25 to 693 metric tons, as per government statistics.
