Zambia Launches Gold Refinery to Capture Domestic Mineral Value
Minera Refineries Zambia Limited has opened a new gold refinery designed to process the precious metal to purity levels between 99% and 99.99%. The launch arrives as several African nations establish domestic refining operations to strengthen control over mineral supply chains and capture broader economic benefits from resource extraction.
Copper remains the dominant force in Zambia’s mining economy, generating 66% of total goods exports with a value of $7.5 billion in 2024. Gold lags far behind that output, contributing just 2% or $262 million to the country’s export earnings. Managing Director Andrew Mukupa Katandula outlined a proposed two-year plan to formalise artisanal gold mining, introduce targeted pre-financing, and improve production transparency. Company representatives stated that the refinery utilizes international standard technology and successfully processed high-purity gold sourced from Mpika approximately two months prior to the public unveiling.
Continental Surge in Domestic Gold Processing Capacity
Zambia joins a broader African push to refine precious metals locally during 2026. Nigeria opened a high-purity gold refinery in Lagos in January, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo inaugurated a facility in Kalemie in March. Burkina Faso launched the RAFFINOR-BF refinery in Ouagadougou in September. The state-controlled Burkina Faso facility was built for 11 billion CFA francs ($19 million) with an initial processing capacity of 164 tons annually, which Adama Sawadogo stated will eventually expand to 515 tons per year in a second phase. Ethiopia followed with a $50 million national precious-metals refinery launch in October.
Zambia 🇿🇲 has opened its first domestic gold refinery, capable of processing the country’s entire annual 3.5-tonne production to 99% purity while aiming to generate over $1.8 billion and formalize artisanal mining.The facility, run by Minera Refineries Zambia Limited, can… pic.twitter.com/cOdyaXgyXY
Supply Chain Formalization and Long-Term Export Impact
The success of Zambia’s new facility relies on operational factors beyond physical refining technology. Transparent purchasing protocols, traceable supply chains, and effective oversight of small-scale miners determine whether artisanal production moves into formal economic channels. While the refinery provides infrastructure to capture added value, actual contributions to government revenue and export totals depend entirely on consistent commercial output and reliable mineral supplies from regions like Mpika.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Zambia Gold Refinery
What purity levels does the Minera Refineries Zambia Limited facility achieve?
The facility processes gold to purity levels ranging between 99% and 99.99% using technology that meets international standards.
What role does gold play in Zambia’s total export economy?
Gold contributed just 2%, or $262 million, to Zambia’s export earnings in 2024, whereas copper accounted for 66% of goods exports worth $7.5 billion.
What specific measures did management propose for small-scale miners?
Managing Director Andrew Mukupa Katandula outlined a two-year plan to formalise artisanal gold mining, introduce targeted pre-financing, and improve transparency across production and trade.