Zambia has authorized two copper smelters—Chambishi Copper Smelter and Mopani Copper Mines—to resume limited sulfuric acid exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a recovery in domestic chemical stocks. Zambia banned exports in September and introduced a permit system in March after supply disruptions, partly linked to the Iran conflict, tightened the availability of the chemical. Sulfuric acid is a critical input in the Central African Copperbelt for extracting copper and cobalt, minerals essential for the global green energy transition. While the government has authorized limited exports to prevent local shortages, the resumption is a vital relief for Congolese miners who recently faced production cuts due to the unavailability of the chemical.
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