RE: Robert Friedland at the future minerals forum in Saudi26 Feb 2026 14:21
There is a lot of talk that the copper price must rise significantly, ie well above $15k per tonne to stimulate the massive investments needed in the porphyry style mega deposits that are out there but need many billions capex and years to construct - and actually there aren't that many good ones unless halfway up a south american mountain (eg Filo)
It makes sense that more small and medium sized mines get quicker funding as the copper price rises as it should do with increasing demand and withering supply (declining grades, dodgy jurisdictions etc) and they will be very profitable - CBs companies very well positioned in that regard.
This scenario surely also makes the NW Zambia prospects all the more valuable (I know BZT doesnt have one of these) as this is one of the few areas where you can find large, easily mined deposits of c 5% copper as per Freidlands Kamoa. This will be the best place on earth for the next gen big mines if Zambia remains stable.