Sandvik to supply 19 underground machines to Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine in the DRC

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sandvik has secured an underground equipment order to deliver 12 Toro® TH663i trucks and 7 Toro® LH621i loaders to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, with two of the machines equipped with AutoMine® systems. The order was booked in the third quarter of this year.

Under the delivery schedule, the first four trucks are expected to arrive at the mine in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the remaining 13 machines delivered in the first quarter of 2027, and the final two loaders scheduled to arrive in the third quarter of 2027.

To support the operation of this equipment, Kamoa Copper S.A. placed an additional order for three AutoMine® Lite systems in May this year. Combined with the existing AutoMine Lite units at the mine, autonomous production capacity at Kamoa-Kakula will expand to four AutoMine Lite systems, supporting the efficient deployment of the new equipment.

The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is a long-life, high-grade underground mining operation. The mine's 2026 copper production guidance is set at 290,000 to 310,000 tonnes, with plans to achieve an annual production rate of approximately 500,000 tonnes starting from 2028.

Sandvik's largest-tonnage intelligent loading and hauling equipment has been operating at the Kamoa mine since 2019. With this order, the total number of Sandvik underground trucks, loaders, and drills in use at Kamoa-Kakula will exceed 100 units, making the Sandvik fleet at the mine one of the largest underground Sandvik fleets in the world.

Annebel Oosthuizen, Managing Director of Kamoa Copper S.A., stated: "Our decision to reinvest in Sandvik equipment is based on the proven operational performance at Kamoa-Kakula over many years. These trucks and loaders have consistently delivered the availability, productivity, and reliability we need to support one of the world's leading underground copper mining operations. Sandvik equipment gives us the confidence to maintain safer, more efficient, and predictable production while supporting our long-term plans."

Sandvik has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2019, specifically serving the Kamoa-Kakula project. The company has deployed an Expert On Site team at the mine and maintains an on-site vendor-managed inventory facility to sustain equipment availability and productivity.