Prospect Resources (ASX: PSC) is entering a significant period of exploration activity in Zambia, with a 22,000-metre Phase 3 diamond drilling campaign underpinning its plans to expand its mineral resource and advance towards a scoping study.

Speaking with HotCopper at the Africa Down Under conference, Prospect Resources executive director of finance Ian Goldberg said a substantial portion of the latest drilling would focus on Newham Central, where the company is targeting both resource expansion and additional infill drilling.

The broader objective is to translate the company's regional drilling into a development case, with Prospect targeting a scoping study towards the end of 2026 and publication expected in early 2027.

"In respect to commodities and Africa in general, Zambia has been in high focus. A lot of the investors that come to these conferences are searching for copper opportunities and the way we're going," Goldberg said.

That investor interest reflects Zambia's broader positioning in the global copper sector. Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer and sits on the Copperbelt, one of the world's major copper-producing regions, and the Zambian government has publicly stated an ambition to significantly lift national copper output over the coming decade — a policy backdrop that has drawn growing exploration and development interest from international miners.

Resource growth is another major objective for the company. Prospect's current resource stands at 208 million tonnes, and the company is targeting an updated mineral resource estimate before the end of 2026, with an ambition to push the resource beyond 300 million tonnes.

"We're targeting about 350 million tonnes, hopefully once we get that resource out. It's an exciting time for us because there's so much opportunity in our tenement where we can grow the resource," Goldberg said.

Goldberg noted that Zambia had been a major focus at this year's Africa Down Under, with strong interest in the country's government, mining sector and, in particular, its copper opportunities.

For Prospect, the combination of continued drilling, resource expansion and the planned scoping study provides investors with several potential catalysts to watch through the remainder of the year. Near-term milestones for readers to follow include assay results from the Phase 3 drilling program, the updated mineral resource estimate targeted before the end of 2026, and subsequent publication of the scoping study expected in early 2027.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.