Zambia has given approval for two leading copper producers to restart restricted exports of sulphuric acid to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), relaxing earlier controls that had placed pressure on mining activities across one of the world’s key battery mineral hubs.
The move follows a recovery in Zambia’s domestic sulphuric acid stocks after months of shortages that had disrupted supply chains across the Central African Copperbelt region.
According to Commerce Minister Chipoka Mulenga, the government has permitted Chambishi Copper Smelter and Mopani Copper Mines to resume limited shipments to Congo, while taking steps to ensure that local mining operations are not affected by renewed shortages.
He explained that the export decision was made possible by improved domestic availability, stressing that only controlled volumes would be allowed at the initial stage.
Official documents also indicated that trading firm Alliswell Investment Limited had been cleared to export around 5,000 metric tonnes of sulphuric acid.
As Africa’s second-largest copper producer, Zambia produces roughly two million metric tonnes of sulphuric acid each year, with most of it generated as a by-product of copper smelting activities.
The chemical plays a crucial role in the extraction of copper and cobalt from oxide ores through a leaching process, making it vital to mining operations.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s leading cobalt producer and a major copper supplier, the resumption of these imports is particularly important as its mining firms depend heavily on sulphuric acid to maintain output levels.
The restrictions introduced by Zambia in September had already intensified operational difficulties for Congolese miners, who were also facing wider global supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and tightening sulphur markets.
Earlier in the year, several mining companies in Congo were forced to scale back chemical usage and even consider production cuts after delays and cancellations in leaching material deliveries.
Globally, sulphuric acid has become increasingly strategic due to its importance not only in mining, but also in fertiliser manufacturing and the production of materials used in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy systems.
Concerns over supply were further heightened after China, a major exporter of sulphuric acid, moved to restrict outbound shipments in order to safeguard domestic demand.
Industry analysts have warned that such restrictions could deepen shortages in key mining regions, including parts of Africa and South America.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs has also cautioned that prolonged scarcity of sulphuric acid could pose risks to global copper output, particularly in countries like Congo and Chile where leaching is widely used.
Zambia’s latest policy shift is therefore expected to offer short-term relief to mining operators across the Copperbelt, a region that is becoming increasingly critical to global supply chains amid the worldwide push for energy transition minerals.
Mr Mulenga further noted that export approvals could be broadened if domestic supply levels remain stable in the coming months.
Under the current arrangement, Mopani is expected to supply commodities trader Glencore, while Chambishi Copper Smelter will channel exports through Chinese-linked mining operations in Congo.