FQM Hands Major Mining Operations to Local Contractor Mineral Link in Zambia

FQM Boosts Zambia Mining Local Content by Awarding Major Load-and-Haul Contract to Mineral Link

First Quantum Minerals (FQM), through its subsidiary FQM Trident Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to Zambia’s socio-economic development by expanding opportunities for local businesses and transferring key operational responsibilities to the Zambian-owned contractor Mineral Link Limited.

This partnership signals a significant evolution in Zambia’s mining sector, shifting from traditional service provision to full contract mining. Mineral Link, a second-generation family business based in Chingola, will now manage enterprise load-and-haul operations previously handled internally by FQM.

According to Thomas Lungu, Superintendent of Commercial Contracts at FQM Trident Limited, the local content strategy is designed to build Zambian ownership and skills.

“Local content at FQM Trident means sourcing goods and services within the Zambian supply chain. By giving full operational responsibility to a local contractor without reducing scope, we are creating an employment pipeline and building long-term capacity,” he said.

Mineral Link’s rapid growth reflects the potential of Zambian enterprises when given meaningful opportunities. After starting in 2022 as a single dozer support provider with just 25 employees, the company now employs more than 200 people and plans to add at least 150 more as new contracts begin.

Director of Operations Musamba Karabasis said the company’s success has been built on performance, safety, and the confidence placed in them by FQM.

“FQM Trident helped us grow from a small service provider to a contractor entrusted with major operations. We are demonstrating that Zambians can deliver to world-class standards,” he noted.

Mineral Link operates with a 100% Zambian workforce, challenging an industry tradition that often relied on expatriates for critical roles. The company has also partnered with training institutions—including Mbola Trade School and Luanshya Business Trades College—to develop skilled local labour, while an apprenticeship programme for articulated dump-truck operators has already produced graduates who are now permanently employed.

For workers like Joseph Mbomena from Kisasa, the opportunity has been transformational.

“The change in my income has transformed my family’s life,” he said. “My children are now in a better school and we are seeing real improvements in our community.”

FQM’s approach is designed to produce a multiplier effect across the national economy by prioritising locally sourced goods and services. Mineral Link has committed to purchasing equipment through local suppliers such as Automotive Equipment, ensuring value remains within Zambia.

According to Mr. Lungu, this model positions Zambian contractors to compete for regional opportunities, including those emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Capable local vendors gain choices and markets beyond the mine,” he said.

FQM Trident maintains that mining and community development are inseparable. By nurturing strong local businesses and investing in skills, the company aims to leave behind a resilient and industrialised local economy long after mineral extraction ends.

As Zambia prepares to implement the Mining Local Content Statutory Instrument in January 2026, FQM says its partnership with Mineral Link demonstrates what genuine local capacity-building looks like.

“When international companies invest meaningfully in local capability, the outcome is not just a contract completed. It is a nation empowered,” the company stated.