📖 About Chingola

Chingola is a town in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, sitting atop one of the world's largest reserves of copper—a metal pivotal to the global clean energy transition.

Founded in 1943 to service the newly opened Nchanga Copper Mine, Chingola has grown into a major mining town. The Nchanga Open Pit is the second largest open-cast mine in the world.

As global demand for copper surges due to electric vehicles and renewable energy, Chingola has attracted massive investment, with over $7 billion in mining pledges between 2022 and 2024.

🎯 Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Copper mining dominates the economy. Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) is Zambia's largest copper company, with headquarters in Chingola and operations across the Copperbelt.

KoBold Metals, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, plans to invest $2 billion in a new copper deposit discovered north of Chingola, signaling the city's growing importance.

The Zambian government aims to quadruple copper output to 3 million tonnes annually by 2031, positioning Chingola at the center of Africa's clean energy mineral boom.

📜 History

Chingola was founded in 1943, later than most Copperbelt towns, specifically to service the newly opened Nchanga Copper Mine. The town grew rapidly with the mining industry.

After Zambian independence in 1964, the copper industry was nationalized. The sector was later privatized in the 1990s, bringing new investment and modern mining techniques.

Today, Chingola faces both opportunities and challenges as global copper demand surges while the community works to ensure mining benefits local residents and addresses social issues.