CRCHI's First Mining TBM Exported to Africa Launches at Zambia's Chambishi Copper Mine

en.Wedoany.com Reported - China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Limited (CRCHI) has launched a mining tunnel boring machine (TBM) at the Chambishi copper mine in Zambia, which the company says is the first Chinese-made mining TBM exported to Africa. The equipment was officially put into operation on May 13 at the Chambishi Southeast orebody project, where it will be used to excavate a 9.7-kilometer tunnel under challenging hard rock conditions, including fault zones and high temperatures.

According to CRCHI, this deployment marks a significant shift from traditional drill-and-blast methods to mechanized and intelligent tunneling technology in African mine construction. The TBM, specifically designed for this project, has an excavation diameter of 5.63 meters, a total length of approximately 130 meters, and a total weight of around 800 tons. The equipment integrates multiple features for operational flexibility and performance in confined underground spaces, including a modular design, a trackless back-up system, and engineering modifications to accommodate small-radius turns. The TBM is capable of achieving a minimum horizontal turning radius of 50 meters and a maximum gradient of ±15°.

Onboard systems also include auxiliary grippers, geological prediction technology, an immediate support system, and cutter monitoring equipment. Additionally, the equipment integrates a customized cooling system to improve working conditions in high-temperature underground environments. The company states that the TBM can perform excavation and lining operations simultaneously, helping to reduce overbreak commonly seen in drill-and-blast tunnel construction and providing a more consistent tunnel profile. Mechanized excavation is also expected to reduce the number of personnel required at the tunnel face, limiting worker exposure to high-risk blasting and support operations.

The Chambishi Southeast orebody project is part of what is touted as Africa's first digital mining project. Once completed, the mine is expected to achieve an annual mining and ore processing capacity of 3.3 million tons and produce copper concentrate containing approximately 60,000 tons of copper.

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