Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company has expressed interest in taking over a key Zambian copper mine that is up for sale, according to four people familiar with the matter.
The approach by the United Arab Emirates’ largest listed company comes as South African miner Sibanye-Stillwater is vying to take on Mopani Copper Mines, a prized but struggling state-owned asset in Africa’s second-biggest producing country, these people added.
Mopani produces the metal used in power lines, electric cars and renewable power. Two Chinese groups, Zijin Mining and Norinco, a defence company, which were initially part of the auction process for the mine, have dropped out, three of the people said.