Source: RT
Subject: Mapping
Context: Talks between India and Zambia over critical mineral exploration have stalled due to a lack of assurances from Lusaka regarding long-term mining rights.
About Zambia:
What it is?
- Zambia is a landlocked, multiparty republic in south-central Africa, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia. It is a developing nation with an economy heavily reliant on the mining and export of metals, and it takes its name from the Zambezi River, which drains the majority of the country.
Located in:
- Region: South-central Africa, situated on a high plateau.
- Connectivity: Much of the population is concentrated along the Line of Rail, a railway linking the Copperbelt with the capital, Lusaka, and the border town of Livingstone.
Bordering Nations: Zambia has a distinctive butterfly shape due to the Congo Pedicle. Its neighbours include:
- West: Angola.
- South: Namibia (Caprivi Strip), Botswana, Zimbabwe (separated by the Zambezi River and Lake Kariba).
- Southeast: Mozambique.
- East: Malawi.
- Northeast: Tanzania.
- North: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Key Minerals and Mining:
Zambia is home to the world-famous Copperbelt, a region where mineralization of the 620-million-year-old Katangan Complex rocks provides the basis of the nation’s industry.
- Copper: Widely used in electronics, construction, and power generation; India’s imports rose 4% last year following domestic smelter closures.
- Cobalt: A critical component for lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones and EVs. India is almost entirely dependent on imports for its cobalt needs.
- Coal: Seams are found in the Karoo rocks north of Lake Kariba.
Key Geological Features:
- High Plateau: Most of the country sits on a plateau between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level.
- Rift Systems: The northern region is part of the East African Rift System, occupied by deep lakes like Mweru and Tanganyika (the latter sits 2,000 feet below the plateau).
- Drainage Systems: The continental divide splits the country between the Congo River basin (flowing to the Atlantic) and the Zambezi River basin (flowing to the Indian Ocean).
- Victoria Falls: One of the world’s most famous waterfalls, where the Zambezi drops 300 feet into a chasm.
- The Katangan Complex: These ancient sedimentary rocks are the primary source of the nation’s copper and cobalt wealth.
Significance:
- As a top producer of copper and cobalt, Zambia is a strategic partner for nations like India looking to secure the minerals of the future for green energy.
- Mining accounts for the vast majority of Zambia’s export earnings; the current negotiations with India represent efforts to bring in private sector investment and modern geological expertise.
- Home to wetlands of international importance, such as the Bangweulu Swamps and Kafue Flats.
