Copper mining

The leading producers of copper in Africa include Zambia, DRC, South Africa, Namibia and Mauritania. Copper from the African countries is mainly exported to Western Europe and Japan. Africa is capable of producing 20% of the world’s total production and of this Zambia and the DRC contribute 16% to the world’s total production. These two are the leading copper exporters in the world.
Copper in Zambia and the DRC is mined the Copper belt, a region extending from Katanga district in DRC to Ndola in Zambia, a length of 450 km and a width of 250 km. It contains a sizeable reserve of copper. However, the term copper belt is used in reference to Zambian section.