The United States is stepping deeper into Africa’s mineral game, dropping a $1.4 million grant to boost copper and cobalt output in Zambia. The money, announced in mid-September by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), will fund a feasibility study at the Kazozu mine in North-Western Province. If successful, the project could raise production by an extra 25,000 metric tonnes of copper and cobalt concentrates each year—key minerals for batteries, electric cars, and clean energy tech.
USTDA acting director Thomas R. Hardy said the move will help American industries secure vital supplies while opening doors for US companies to provide equipment, expertise, and materials. “By leveraging US technology, this project expands Zambia’s mining sector while strengthening secure, responsible supply chains that benefit both nations,” Hardy explained.
Metalex Africa, a subsidiary of US-based Metalex Commodities, is leading the venture in partnership with Zambian firm Terra Metals. Metalex CEO Ayo Sopitan called the grant a major milestone, noting it will allow the company to refine project phases and test the commercial viability of ramping up production.
The investment fits into Washington’s bigger plan to develop the Lobito Corridor—a 1,700-kilometre railway network stretching from Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito through Zambia and into the Democratic Republic of Congo. The corridor is designed as a strategic alternative to Chinese-financed projects, giving the US and its allies a stronger foothold in Africa’s resource-rich Copperbelt.
America’s push goes beyond USTDA’s grant. The US International Development Finance Corporation has already committed $550 million for railway and port upgrades, while the Millennium Challenge Corporation is funding road and agriculture projects in Zambia. Tech-backed KoBold Metals, supported by investors like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, also plans to anchor its Mingomba project on the Lobito railway.
Together, these moves show Washington’s determination to cut dependence on Chinese-controlled mineral supply chains and secure a bigger slice of Africa’s resource future. For Zambia, it’s another chance to expand its mining sector while deepening international partnerships.
