Keypoints:
- KoBold starts work on $2bn Mingomba
- Makor deploys $2m–$3m in Zambia
- Buenassa advances copper-cobalt refining
FIVE mining companies are advancing copper, cobalt and gold projects across Zambia, the DRC, Ghana and South Africa as investors pursue new deposits, domestic processing capacity and more formalised production systems.
KoBold Metals, Makor Resources, Buenassa, Typhoon Greenfield Development and Gold Ore represent different stages of the mining value chain. Their plans will test whether stronger mineral demand can become operating assets, local industry and jobs.
KoBold pushes Mingomba into construction
KoBold Metals and state investment company ZCCM-IH formally broke ground on planned shaft construction at Zambia’s Mingomba copper mine on April 29, 2026.
KoBold estimates that more than $2bn will be invested in the project, targeting annual production of about 300,000 tonnes of copper and first output in the early 2030s.
The development could contribute significantly to Zambia’s target of producing 3m tonnes of copper annually by 2031. That ambition has placed the country at the centre of Africa’s critical-minerals investment push as copper demand rises across power networks, transport and digital infrastructure.
KoBold says its exploration model combines artificial intelligence, geological expertise and predictive modelling. The company is also supporting the digitisation of geological data in Burundi and pursuing opportunities in the DRC.
Makor builds future copper pipeline
Makor Resources is advancing the Muli and Kangili projects as part of a district-scale Zambian copper portfolio.
Its investment strategy is valued at up to $30m over several years. An initial $2m to $3m programme in 2026 covers geophysical surveys, remote sensing and systematic sampling to improve geological understanding and define drilling targets.
Muli covers a 418-square-kilometre landholding in Central Zambia, while Kangili targets copper and cobalt opportunities in Mkushi. Both remain exploration assets, with production dependent on discovery, technical studies, finance and approvals.
Buenassa advances DRC refining
Buenassa is pursuing an integrated copper and cobalt refining strategy in Lualaba Province as the DRC seeks to retain more value from minerals processed abroad.
The company’s latest roadmap allocates $700m to the first refinery phase, targeting 30,000 tonnes of copper and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt annually. Output would include LME-grade copper cathode, cobalt sulphate and high-purity cobalt metal.
A proposed second phase would raise annual capacity to 120,000 tonnes of copper and 20,000 tonnes of cobalt. Buenassa says it is working with government, financiers and engineering partners to move the project towards bankability.
The investment forms part of a wider contest for the DRC’s copper and cobalt resources as investors seek more secure strategic-mineral supply chains.
Typhoon narrows formalisation gap
In Ghana, Typhoon Greenfield Development has launched an in-house programme for artisanal and small-scale miners operating near its mining clusters.
The initiative is intended to help participating miners organise, improve regulatory compliance and gain access to finance and safer practices. Its scope is not nationwide, but it could offer a company-level model for bringing informal producers into regulated supply chains.
Gold Ore targets first production
South African gold developer Gold Ore says it is advancing the New Kleinfontein opencast permits and Turnbridge underground section in Gauteng.
The company continues to target first production in 2026, beginning with shallow opencast material before moving towards underground output. Gold Ore says the projects could operate for about 10 years, although its published information does not confirm the current extension status of the underlying prospecting right.
Execution will determine impact
The companies show that Africa’s next mining cycle extends beyond new pits. Exploration, refining, formalisation and the redevelopment of established districts will shape its outcome.
Their significance will depend on securing finance, completing technical studies, meeting regulatory requirements and converting projections into responsible production and measurable benefits for host economies.
