The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded funding to Metalex Africa Zambia, a subsidiary of Texas-based Metalex Commodities, for a feasibility study to accelerate the expansion of a Zambian facility that extracts and processes copper and cobalt.

The project is envisioned to diversify US supply chains to access these critical minerals. USTDA and Metalex announced their partnership in a ceremony that was held on Capitol Hill, in Washington DC, and witnessed by US Senator Ted Cruz.

“USTDA’s partnership with Metalex will help ensure US industries can reliably access the inputs they need to remain secure, competitive, and prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

“By leveraging US technology and expertise, this project will help expand Zambia’s mining sector, advancing responsible resource development to benefit both our nations,” USTDA acting director Thomas R Hardy said.

USTDA’s assistance will support Metalex’s plans to expand its extraction and refining operations at the Kazozu mine. This effort includes a comprehensive study to evaluate the potential for producing up to 25 000 additional metric tons of copper and cobalt concentrates each year.

These critical minerals are essential for technologies such as semiconductors, fibre-optic networks, energy systems, and batteries, as well as applications in the aerospace and defence industries.

By connecting Metalex with US buyers, the study is expected to help strengthen supply chains for these industries. The project is also expected to create opportunities for US companies to supply materials and equipment for the plant’s expansion.

“This grant from USTDA is a significant milestone for our project in Zambia, which will produce copper and cobalt destined for US offtake. The grant will help us expand our current resource, define project phases as well as establish the feasibility of project expansion.

“Metalex is a US-based producer of carbon-neutral critical metals with its flagship project being the Kazozu copper/cobalt mine, a project done in partnership with Zambian mining junior Terra Metals,” Metalex Commodities CEO Ayo Sopitan said.