Canadian mining firms have pledged to continue playing a significant role in ensuring that Zambia's copper production reaches its highest peak, a statement released on Friday by a Canadian mining think-tank has said.

The Canada-EU Mining Council, a Canadian non-profit industry association established in 2009, said in the statement that the Canadian mining firms are proud to have contributed to returning Zambian annual copper production to its historic peak in many years and that they are ready to continue to develop the country's mineral resources.

According to figures, Zambia, Africa's top copper producer, produced about 683,000 tonnes of copper last year, which however still fell short of the 700,000 tonnes produced during the country's peak periods in the 1970s.

According to the statement, about 372,000 tonnes of the copper produced last year came from mines operated by Canadian companies.

There are two Canadian mining giants in Zambia, namely First Quantum Minerals Limited which operates Kansanshi Mine in northwestern Zambia and Barrick Gold which operates Lumwana Mine in the same province.

According to the statement, with increased investments coming from mining firms, the southern African nation is likely to increase annual copper production to 700,000 tonnes by 2015.