The governments of Zambia and Japanese have signed a grant agreement worth 1.2 million United States dollars for the procurement of critical mining equipment for the Geological Survey Department under the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in Zambia.

Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony in Lusaka , Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane said government will procure state – of- the- art mining equipment from the support, which will not only improve the accuracy and efficiency of geological surveys but also attract further investments into Zambia’s mining sector.

Dr Musokotwane has noted that the grant, dubbed the ‘Economic and Development Programme’, comes at a critical time when government is intensifying efforts to revitalise the mining sector and leverage the country’s minerals for the benefit of all Zambians.

“The support aligns with Zambia’s development agenda which emphasises sustainable economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.” Dr Musokotwane noted.

ZANIS reports that the Minister also expressed optimism that the grant will contribute to the actualisation of government’s vision to boost copper production to 3 million metric tonnes by 2031.

He has disclosed that government has, in this vain, set a target of producing 960 000 to 1 million metric tonnes next year. 

And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Takeuchi Kazuyuki, says his country has noted that Zambia’s geological data has not been updated since the 1970s, adding that this has been one of the barriers to private investment in the mining sector. 

He added that the lack of equipment to identify mineral composition has also been among the challenges in the country that have moved the government of Japan to provide the grant. 

“The government of Japan hopes to contribute to value addition to minerals through the use of the laboratory equipment provided under this grant and the promotion of the mining sector as a whole, by strengthening Zambia’s mineral analysis capacity”.