Cases / Mining · Zambia · 1997–2008
Zambia voids copper development agreements and raises mining royalty
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
Copper development agreements gave Zambian mining firms 10 to 20 years of stability and a 0.6 percent royalty until 2008, when the government voided them by law. The sources record no environmental effect of the change.
What?
Zambia amended its mining law in 2008 to void copper development agreements and raise the royalty. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
Where?
Zambia, copper mining Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
When?
Agreements signed 1997 to 2008; voided in 2008. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
Who?
Gained
- Government of Zambia — Royalty raised from 0.6 to 3 percent, and a 25 percent excess-profit tax introduced. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
Lost
- Companies holding the 1997 to 2008 development agreements — Lost the stability terms and royalty rate the agreements provided. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
Harmed
None on recordWhy?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Legislative change that invalidated the agreements. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
The NRGI analysis reports that copper development agreements signed from 1997 gave 10 to 20 years of stability and a 0.6 percent royalty.
In 2008 Zambia amended its law to void the agreements, raised the royalty to 3 percent and introduced a 25 percent excess-profit tax, NRGI reported.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources do not say whether any company challenged the 2008 voiding of the agreements in court.
- None on record The sources do not give the revenue effect of the change.
- None on record The sources record no environmental outcome.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers
Communities and civil society
- Politics reforming Zambia mining tax regimeNatural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) ·