India is not alone in investing in Zambia for its copper reserves. Canada-based First Quantum Minerals and China’s CNMC are among the largest producers of copper in Zambia.The Indian government has secured 9,000 sq km of greenfield land in Zambia for the exploration of copper and cobalt on a government-to-government basis, V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, said Thursday.The Mines Ministry is also working through nodal officers in other African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Rwanda to get more critical mineral assets for exploration.These countries are rich in copper, cobalt, graphite, and nickel—key minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, clean energy technologies, and advanced electronics.“We have selected the Geological Survey of (GSI) to do exploration and that is an area where there are prospects of cobalt and copper. We will take about two to three years to do this exploration and we hope that after the exploration, we will be able to get the mining rights also,” Rao said at a media briefing.The land, roughly six times the size of Delhi, lies in Zambia’s Northwestern Province. In the neighbouring Copperbelt Province, Vedanta Group also owns a large copper mine.India is not alone in investing in Zambia for its copper reserves. Canada-based First Quantum Minerals and China’s CNMC are among the largest producers of copper in Zambia.The ministry’s inroads in Africa come after significant movement in South America and Australia. In Argentina, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), under the ministry, and the Greenko Group have invested in greenfield lithium exploration projects over the past year.Story continues below this adIn Australia, KABIL, together with the Australian government’s Critical Mineral Office, is looking at lithium and cobalt assets. Public sector enterprises such as Coal India Ltd, NMDC Ltd, and ONGC Videsh Ltd are also interested in assets in Australia, Rao said.Back at home, a special GSI team will head to Jammu & Kashmir for further exploration of the Reasi lithium block, Minister of Mines G Kishan Reddy said at the briefing. “The government is closely monitoring the situation and will get clarity by the end of May, after which we will auction the block,” Reddy said.The block’s auction has been annulled two times due to lack of sufficient investor interest. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd