Michael Gonzales
The United States government described the US$300 million Mingomba Mine as the single largest one-time investment in Zambia’s history and a model for a new era of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the mine in Chililabombwe today, United States Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency Mr. Michael Gonzales, said the project demonstrates what a real, modern, mutually beneficial economic partnership between the United States and Zambia can look like.
“What we are witnessing here at Mingomba is not just the start of a mine. It is the start of something larger,” Ambassador Gonzales told guests, including President Hakainde Hichilema.
The Ambassador said US investor KoBold Metals is the vanguard of American investment in Zambia, bringing cutting-edge technology, global best practices, and integrity beyond capital investment.
“It’s not just a hole in the ground. They recognize that a mine’s social license is earned through genuine partnership with the communities that host it it’s not purchased,” he said.
The Ambassador contrasted KoBold’s approach with foreign investment models characterized by opaque contracts that displace local workers and cut corners on environmental protection, stating America brings integrity.
The Ambassador urged government to maintain policy stability and improve the business environment, noting that “capital, like water, will follow the path of least resistance.
The Mingomba Mine project, which began with a team of 10 in 2022, now employs 600 workers ahead of full-scale operations.
The groundbreaking was attended by President Hichilema, Cabinet Ministers, KoBold Metals executives, and other investors.
