India has deployed a team of geologists to Zambia to explore deposits of copper and cobalt, two minerals critical to its clean energy transition, according to two Indian government sources.
The Zambian government has allocated 9,000 square kilometers (approximately 3,475 square miles) to India for this exploration initiative.
The focus will be on cobalt—a vital component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones—and copper, which is widely used in power generation, electronics, and construction.
The exploration project is expected to span three years, with most of the sample analysis to be conducted in Indian laboratories, one of the sources said.
The geological team is scheduled to make multiple visits to Zambia throughout the duration of the project.
Following the initial exploration and assessment phase, the Indian government plans to seek a mining lease from Zambia.
There are also discussions about involving private-sector companies to participate in the development of any viable deposits, the sources added.
India’s Ministry of Mines has not commented publicly on the project.
This move is part of New Delhi’s broader strategy to secure access to critical minerals through government-to-government partnerships.
India has been in talks with several African nations and is also exploring opportunities in resource-rich regions such as Australia and Latin America.
In March, Reuters reported that India was negotiating an initial agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure supplies of cobalt and copper.
An Indian delegation attended a mining conference in Congo last month and visited local mining sites, the Ministry of Mines said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
India has been increasingly concerned about its exposure to a tightening global copper market.
The country is exploring options to strengthen supply chains as part of ongoing trade negotiations, Reuters reported last week.
Copper imports have surged since the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite copper smelter in 2018. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, India imported 1.2 million metric tons of copper—a 4% increase from the previous year.
India is also heavily reliant on imported cobalt. Shipments of cobalt oxide rose by 20% in FY 2024–25 to 693 metric tons, according to government data.
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