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Government has signed an agreement with global mining company BHP to strengthen Zambia’s geological exploration capacity, following its engagement at the 24th Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth, Australia.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Dr Hapenga Kabeta, said the agreement, which was currently undergoing vetting by the Attorney General’s Chambers, would initially focus on capacity building for the Geological Survey Department in line with company’s mineral systems approach to exploration.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Kabeta said the agreement was one of the outcomes of Government’s participation at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference held in Perth from September 2 to 4, 2026, where Government engaged various international mining companies on investment opportunities in Zambia.
He said the partnership was aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to generate and use detailed geological information needed to identify and define mineral resources.
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“It requires detailed geological information to identify and define mineral resources, and strengthening the Geological Survey Department would therefore benefit both Government and investors,” Kabeta said.
He added that Government was particularly interested in strengthening the department’s capacity through the acquisition of drilling equipment.
Kabeta explained that while Zambia was conducting airborne geological surveys to identify areas with mineral potential, drilling rigs were required to establish the extent, depth and characteristics of identified resources.
“If we are able to strengthen the Geological Survey Department and have maybe two or three drill rigs, it can help us greatly to define the kind of resources that we have,” he said.
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