Construction has begun on the $2.3 billion Mingomba copper mine in Zambia, a major project backed by tech leaders including Bill Gates and Sam Altman. Located in Zambia’s prolific Copperbelt, the project is a “tech-first” operation, using proprietary artificial intelligence to locate high-grade ore deposits nearly 1,600 meters underground—a feat conventional exploration had missed. Once operational, the mine is expected to produce 300,000 tons of copper annually, making it one of the world’s largest. With demand for copper—essential for the construction of data centers and renewable energy infrastructure—rising sharply, the project is critical to Western efforts to diversify the global supply chain away from China. However, despite its promise, the project faces technical challenges, including deep drilling and flood-prone conditions.
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