Zambia has launched its first domestic gold refinery as the country seeks to increase the value of its mineral resources, formalise artisanal mining and reduce its reliance on copper exports.
The facility, developed by Minera Refineries Zambia Limited, was presented at the Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka on October 25, 2026. The company says it can refine gold to purity levels of about 99 percent, with its equipment and laboratory capable of reaching 99.99 percent.
The refinery comes as African governments seek to capture more value from minerals by processing them locally rather than exporting raw or semi-processed materials. Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia have also opened or announced gold and precious metals refining projects.
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For Zambia, however, the challenge is not simply having the capacity to refine gold but securing enough supply from miners to keep the facility operating commercially.
Gold remains a small part of the country’s export economy despite its mining potential. According to the US Geological Survey, copper accounted for 66 percent of Zambia’s goods exports in 2024, generating about $7.5 billion, while gold contributed just two percent, worth $262 million.
Official gold output, excluding doré, reached 3,141.81 kilogrammes in 2024, far below the government’s target of 18,000 kilogrammes for 2025 under its Export Diversification Strategy. The gap highlights the difficulty of expanding production and bringing more gold into formal trading channels.
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Andrew Mukupa Katandula, managing director of Minera Refineries Zambia Limited, has outlined a two-year plan to formalise artisanal gold mining, provide targeted pre-financing to miners and improve transparency in gold production and trade.
These measures could help the refinery secure a more reliable supply of gold, particularly from small-scale miners whose production may not pass through official channels. But attracting that supply will depend on the prices offered, prompt payments and access to working capital.
The Bank of Zambia is already an important buyer in the domestic gold market. By the end of September 2025, it had purchased 3,051.3 kilogrammes of gold valued at $396.3 million, creating competition for locally produced metal.
Minera has said its technology meets international standards and that gold sourced from Mpika and processed at the facility achieved high purity levels, attracting interest from potential buyers. The company has also projected that the initiative could generate more than $1.8 billion, according to the Zambian Observer. The available information does not specify the period covered by that projection or the assumptions behind it.
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The government has also taken steps to expand formal participation in gold mining. Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe said 1,201 gold-related artisanal mining licences had been issued since 2023, reflecting efforts to bring more operators into the regulated sector.
The refinery’s long-term impact will depend on whether those efforts translate into higher recorded production, consistent supplies and stronger export earnings. Processing gold locally could allow Zambia to capture more value from its resources, but refining capacity alone cannot guarantee those gains.
With copper still dominating exports, the new facility offers Zambia another route to diversify its mining economy. Its success will ultimately depend on how much gold it can source, process and sell, and whether the resulting income reaches miners and the wider economy.
Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
