DRC to procure $17M worth of equipment for Kipushi zinc Mine’s 2024 relaunch
The Swedish Epiroc, world specialist in mining equipment, announced on March 23 the signing of a contract for the benefit of the Kipushi zinc, copper, germanium and silver mine in the province of Haut-Katanga.
These are several loaders, mining trucks and drills worth $17 million ordered by the mining contractor JCHX Mining and Construction, reports Agence Ecofin.
These different pieces of equipment are equipped with an intelligent performance and productivity monitoring system, as well as a tool that allows them to be controlled remotely.
Automation plays a growing role in the mining industry, bringing both increased efficiency and enhanced safety. For Helena Hedblom, CEO of Epiroc, the objective is therefore to make “operations at the Kipushi mine as safe and productive as possible”.
It should be noted that the Kipushi project has been under maintenance and upkeep since the beginning of the 1990s. Construction work intended to bring the mine back into service has been underway since August 2022 for entry into production in the second quarter of 2024.
The project is owned by Kipushi Corporation (KICO), a joint venture in which Gécamines is a 38% shareholder, against 62% for the Canadian Ivanhoe Mines.
