What we test and verify in Zambia
Zambia produced 890,346 tonnes of copper in 2025, up from 825,513 tonnes in 2024, Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe announced in January 2026; the government’s target is three million tonnes a year by 2031. Most of what foreign buyers are offered is copper cathode, copper concentrate or copper scrap, with gold in smaller volumes.
- Copper cathode inspection — bundle count, weight, brand and lot marks, condition, and XRF reading; samples to a laboratory where the contract requires it.
- Copper concentrate sampling — samples drawn under supervision for copper grade, moisture and penalty elements.
- Gold testing in Lusaka and at the source — XRF, density and fire assay.
- Seller verification — PACRA record, Mining Cadastre licence, trading and export permits, authority to sell.
- Loading supervision — witnessing loading and sealing at the warehouse before trucks leave for the port.
Checking a Zambian seller: PACRA and the Mining Cadastre
Two records answer most of the first questions about a Zambian supplier:
| Record | Where | What we confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | PACRA (Patents and Companies Registration Agency) | The company exists, its number, directors and shareholders |
| Mining and trading licences | Zambia Mining Cadastre, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development | Licence type, holder, area, minerals covered and validity |
| Export permit | Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development | A permit for the specific consignment and mineral |
| Tax standing | Zambia Revenue Authority | The company is registered for tax and exports are declared |
Under the Mines and Minerals Development Act, mining is done under artisanal, small-scale or large-scale mining licences, and trading needs a mineral trading permit, with separate import and export permits. A trader who holds a trading permit but no export permit for the lot cannot ship it as offered. See how to verify a mining licence.
Where we work in Zambia
| Area | Typical work |
|---|---|
| Lusaka | Office; document and licence checks; gold testing; buyer meetings |
| Kitwe and Ndola | Cathode and scrap inspection at warehouses; loading supervision |
| Chingola, Mufulira and Chililabombwe | Mine and warehouse visits; concentrate sampling |
| Solwezi and Kalumbila (North-Western) | Mine visits and concentrate sampling |
How we inspect copper cathodes and concentrate
Cathodes
Cathodes sold as LME Grade A must come from an LME-registered brand and meet BS EN 1978:1998 (Cu-CATH-1) or ASTM B115 Grade 1. We record the brand marks, count and weigh bundles, note the condition, take XRF readings and, where the contract calls for it, draw samples for laboratory analysis. Non-registered cathode is a legitimate product, but it should be described and priced as what it is.
Concentrate
Concentrate is priced on its payable copper content after moisture, so the sample decides the price. We draw increments across the lot or the bags under supervision, following the principles of ISO 12743 for sampling and ISO 10251 for moisture, seal the samples, and send them to ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. The laboratory addresses the certificate to you.
Zambia extended its duty-free waiver on copper concentrate exports in June 2026 while local smelters were under repair, so concentrate export lots have been more common. A seller’s export permit should name the product exactly.
Gold testing in Zambia
Gold offered in Lusaka is tested the same way as elsewhere: XRF on the surface, density for the whole piece, a drilled or melted sample for fire assay, with weighing, sealing and a photo record. See gold testing on site.
Copper scrap and wire
Copper scrap is graded to ISRI specifications — bare bright, #1 and #2 copper among them — and the grade sets the price. At the yard we inspect the material against the grade offered, check for insulation, plating, solder and other contamination, weigh it and record the bales before they are loaded.
Loading supervision and seals
The most important moment in a copper deal is often the last one at the warehouse. Our inspector watches the lot being loaded, records truck and container numbers, applies or records the seals, and photographs each stage. The report links the inspected lot to the shipping documents, so what arrives at the port is what was inspected.
How long it takes
PACRA and Mining Cadastre checks usually take one to two working days. Warehouse inspections on the Copperbelt can usually be scheduled within days of your request; mine visits in North-Western Province need more notice. Laboratory times are confirmed in the quotation.
What you receive
- A written report sent to you directly, the same day for on-site results
- Every reading, weight and seal number, with dated photos and video
- Registry and licence findings, each with the source checked
- The laboratory certificate in your name where an assay was done
- Truck, container and seal numbers where loading was supervised