An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector
| dc.contributor.advisor | Smith, Michael | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kanyama, Victor Amedzo | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-25T08:28:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-25T08:28:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-11-25T08:26:37Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study assesses whether Zambia can leverage the critical minerals boom and the global green transition to drive its industrialisation and economic development. As a major copper producer, Zambia holds strategic importance in supplying minerals essential for renewable technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and energy storage systems. However, the country's ability to capitalise on this demand hinges on strengthening productive linkages, integrating into regional and global value chains, and navigating geopolitical competition. The research examines historical policy shifts, the structural barriers that have limited Zambia's economic diversification, and the role of governance and industrial policy in unlocking value addition. The study evaluates Zambia's forward and backward linkages, identifying challenges such as weak local beneficiation, foreign dominance in mining procurement, and policy inconsistencies that constrain industrial growth. Regional collaboration, particularly through Zambia's partnership with the DRC, is explored as a potential avenue for enhancing midstream processing and attracting investment into battery precursor production. Additionally, the geopolitical landscape—marked by competition between the United States, China, and emerging investors—is analysed in relation to Zambia's strategic positioning in the global copper supply chain. Using semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the study outlines actionable policy pathways for Zambia, including industrial strategy refinement, local content enforcement, and institutional reforms. It argues that with coherent policy implementation, infrastructure investment, and a balanced geopolitical approach, Zambia can transition from a raw material exporter to a key player in mineral-based industrialisation, securing long-term economic benefits from the green transition. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Kanyama, V. A. (2025). <i>An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Kanyama, Victor Amedzo. <i>"An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Kanyama, V.A. 2025. An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Kanyama, Victor Amedzo AB - This study assesses whether Zambia can leverage the critical minerals boom and the global green transition to drive its industrialisation and economic development. As a major copper producer, Zambia holds strategic importance in supplying minerals essential for renewable technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and energy storage systems. However, the country's ability to capitalise on this demand hinges on strengthening productive linkages, integrating into regional and global value chains, and navigating geopolitical competition. The research examines historical policy shifts, the structural barriers that have limited Zambia's economic diversification, and the role of governance and industrial policy in unlocking value addition. The study evaluates Zambia's forward and backward linkages, identifying challenges such as weak local beneficiation, foreign dominance in mining procurement, and policy inconsistencies that constrain industrial growth. Regional collaboration, particularly through Zambia's partnership with the DRC, is explored as a potential avenue for enhancing midstream processing and attracting investment into battery precursor production. Additionally, the geopolitical landscape—marked by competition between the United States, China, and emerging investors—is analysed in relation to Zambia's strategic positioning in the global copper supply chain. Using semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the study outlines actionable policy pathways for Zambia, including industrial strategy refinement, local content enforcement, and institutional reforms. It argues that with coherent policy implementation, infrastructure investment, and a balanced geopolitical approach, Zambia can transition from a raw material exporter to a key player in mineral-based industrialisation, securing long-term economic benefits from the green transition. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Critical minerals KW - Green transition KW - Mineral-Based Industrialisation (MBI) KW - Productive linkages KW - Downstream KW - Upstream KW - Global Value Chains (GVCs) KW - Regional Value Chains (RVCs) LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector TI - An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Kanyama VA. An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42328 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | School of Economics | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Commerce | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | Critical minerals | |
| dc.subject | Green transition | |
| dc.subject | Mineral-Based Industrialisation (MBI) | |
| dc.subject | Productive linkages | |
| dc.subject | Downstream | |
| dc.subject | Upstream | |
| dc.subject | Global Value Chains (GVCs) | |
| dc.subject | Regional Value Chains (RVCs) | |
| dc.title | An assessment of whether the critical minerals boom and green transition can be leveraged for Zambia's industrialisation and economic development: spotlight on the Copper Mining Sector | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MCom |