Negotiations between India and Zambia over access to strategic mineral resources have hit a roadblock, reportedly due to Zambia’s failure to provide firm guarantees on mining rights, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Last year, Zambia allocated roughly 9,000 square kilometres to India for exploration of cobalt and copper two key minerals used in electric vehicle batteries, electronic devices, and electricity infrastructure. Cobalt plays a vital role in battery production, while global copper demand continues to rise alongside the global energy transition.
A government-supported Indian geological team was sent to Zambia last year and has since returned with samples containing both cobalt and copper deposits. The exploration plan was originally designed as a three-year programme, after which India intended to allow private sector participation, provided formal mining rights were secured.
Sources indicated that the reason for Zambia’s delay in granting the required assurances remains unclear. India is reportedly seeking to restart discussions, although the final outcome is still uncertain. Neither Zambia’s government nor India’s Ministry of Mines responded to requests for comment.
The stalled engagement comes as India accelerates efforts to lock in critical mineral supplies through state-level agreements across Africa, Australia, and Latin America, amid growing concerns about fragile global supply chains.
India has also been reassessing its vulnerability to copper shortages following the 2018 closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper smelter, which significantly reduced domestic production capacity. The country imported around 1.2 million metric tonnes of copper in the fiscal year ending March 2025, representing a 4% increase from the previous year.
For cobalt, India continues to depend heavily on foreign suppliers, with imports of cobalt oxide rising by 20% in 2024–25 to 693 metric tonnes, according to official figures.
Industry analysts note that securing reliable access to cobalt and copper has become a core part of India’s industrial strategy, as global competition intensifies for control of critical mineral supply chains.