Japan and Zambia Conclude MOU for Cooperative Mineral Development

Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), an incorporated administrative agency to assist upstream activities for mineral resources and energies, and Zambian government concluded Memorandum of Understanding in Tokyo on Thursday to strengthen cooperative relationship in mineral resource development. MOU included opinion exchange among governmental officials, governmental support for co-exploration and cooperative analysis by utilization of JOGMEC’s geological remote sensing center in Botswana.

Zambia is abundant in copper resource with an area called “copper belt.” Zambian copper ore production is the 9th largest in the world. The cobalt production is the 4th largest. The country is one of important cobalt suppliers for Japan. Zambia is also rich with nickel and platinum group metals.

Zambian government privatized a national mining company, ZCCM, in March 2000. The government has represented the national plan to explore suspending mine sites through a joint venture with ZCCM. China has already implemented a large investment for copper and other metal mines, including Chambishi copper mine project.