Indian team to explore mineral sources in Zambia

India has dispatched a team of geologists to Zambia to explore copper and cobalt deposits as New Delhi steps up efforts to secure critical mineral supplies essential to its energy transition, reports the Club of Mozambique. The Zambian Government this year agreed to allocate 9 000 square km to India for the exploration of cobalt – a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones – as well as for scouting copper. The exploration project will last for three years and most of the analysis will be done in laboratories in India. After assessing the mining potential, the Indian Government will seek a mining lease from the Zambian Government and may also invite private-sector companies to participate in the project, the sources said. India’s Ministry of Mines did not respond to a request for comment.