Summary:Sandvik secures $29m underground mining equipment order from Kamoa Copper, expanding mechanised and autonomous fleet for the Kamoa‑Kakula copper complex in DRC....

 Underground mining loader and haul truck for Kamoa‑Kakula operation, Sandvik Toro mobile mining equipment

Sandvik has secured a $29 million mining equipment order from Kamoa Copper, reinforcing the long‑term partnership between the equipment manufacturer and one of Africa’s largest copper producing complexes. The contract covers 19 units of underground load‑haul‑dump loaders and haul trucks, set to expand the existing Sandvik mobile fleet operating at the Kamoa‑Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Booked in the third quarter of 2026, the order marks another major equipment procurement as the mine continues scaling underground copper outputMarketScre....

Located within the Central African Copperbelt, Kamoa‑Kakula is operated by Kamoa Copper, a joint venture between Zijin Mining, Ivanhoe Mines and the DRC state. Sandvik machinery has supported site operations since 2019, and this new purchase further builds one of the world’s largest underground Sandvik‑equipped mining fleetsSandvik. Part of the new fleet will be fitted with AutoMine automation technology, supporting Kamoa Copper’s push toward safer, higher‑efficiency underground production. Phased delivery will run from Q4 2026 through Q3 2027, allowing on‑site teams to complete operator training and maintenance integration before full deploymentSandvik.

Consolidating major equipment procurement with a single original‑equipment manufacturer delivers tangible operational benefits for remote African mining sites. Unified fleet models simplify spare‑parts management, reduce maintenance downtime and standardise workforce training programmes across the underground operation. For Kamoa Copper, the new truck and loader fleet will support ramp‑up targets amid rising global demand for copper used in energy‑transition infrastructure. Industry observers view the multi‑million‑dollar equipment investment as a strong signal of operator confidence in the mine’s long‑term production outlook.

While hardware delivery follows a staged timeline, Kamoa Copper is also expanding its automation footprint. Additional AutoMine Lite systems will be deployed alongside the new machinery, lifting the site’s total number of autonomous‑ready operating systems to four. Even with proven equipment on order, full performance gains will depend on logistics, local skill‑building and stable site conditions at the remote DRC copper complex.

The $29 million Sandvik equipment order demonstrates how leading African copper projects keep investing in mechanisation and automation to lift output and underground safety. By expanding its high‑capacity underground fleet, Kamoa Copper positions itself to sustain and grow copper supply from the Central African Copperbelt for global energy‑transition supply chains.