Ten reasons

1. World-class endowment. The Copperbelt is the largest sediment-hosted Cu-Co province on Earth with vast discovered and undiscovered potential. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
2. High-grade flagship mines. Kamoa-Kakula is a modern, long-life complex posting 437,061 t copper in 2024 with strong feed grades. That anchors district cash flows. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
3. Visible growth in Zambia. Lumwana Super Pit is set to double to about 240 kt per year by 2028 and Sentinel is already a 200k+ tpa producer with further optimization. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
4. Cobalt by-product economics. DRC supplies roughly three-quarters of mined cobalt, lifting revenue stacks for Cu-Co operations and improving project IRRs. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
5. Established smelting base. Zambia hosts large smelting capacity led by Kansanshi, producing 300k+ t anode with an expansion program to lift throughput. That shortens cash conversion. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
6. New export routes. The Lobito Corridor is advancing with US and partner backing, giving the Copperbelt a faster Atlantic outlet and reducing reliance on congested southern routes. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
7. Multiple logistics options today. TAZARA to Dar es Salaam and associated road corridors keep metal moving while Lobito ramps, improving resilience when one route clogs. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
8. Policy signals in Zambia. Re-introducing mineral royalty deductibility for CIT and broader pro-mining reforms improved project economics and investor sentiment. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
9. Operator depth and capital access. Barrick, First Quantum, CMOC, and Ivanhoe are committing billions to expansions and new capacity, a strong read-through for permitting and bankability. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
10. Power potential. DRC’s Inga site offers unmatched hydro potential around 42 GW while Zambia is adding utility-scale solar to stabilize supply for miners. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Reality check

Risks are real. Zambia’s drought exposed hydropower dependence and caused rationing. The fix is diversification and dedicated supply to mines. DRC policy can shift and has used export controls in the past. Build buffers into timelines, add logistics redundancy, and lock power contracts up front. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}