THE European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Zambia’s mining sector through enhanced collaboration with the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC).

In a Statement made available to ZANIS, EU Team Leader for Social Sectors, Governance and Critical Raw Materials Bogdan Stefanescu commended the government of Zambia for establishing the MRC, describing it as a key institution mandated to regulate and monitor compliance in the mining sector.

Mr Stefanescu said the EU is implementing projects valued at approximately €16 million in Zambia, focusing on skills development for artisanal and small-scale miners, access to justice and the formalisation of mining enterprises.

Meanwhile, EU Head of Cooperation, Claudio Bacigalupi, emphasised the importance of the Zambia-EU partnership anchored on the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on critical minerals.

And MRC Director General Tom Hara stated that the Commission was established to enhance oversight and accountability in the mining sector, with a nationwide presence in key mining areas.