Sandvik has secured an equipment order worth approximately $29 million (SEK 275 million) from Kamoa Copper for its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The agreement covers the supply of 19 underground mining machines, including 12 Toro TH663i underground trucks and seven Toro LH621i loaders.
Two of the loaders will feature Sandvik’s AutoMine autonomous technology, strengthening automation capabilities at one of the world’s major underground copper operations. The order is scheduled to be booked during the third quarter of 2026, with deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter.
The initial shipment will comprise four trucks in Q4 2026, followed by 13 vehicles in Q1 2027. The remaining two loaders are scheduled for delivery in Q3 2027.
Kamoa Copper is operated through a joint venture involving Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, Crystal River Global and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mine has been using Sandvik equipment since 2019, and the latest order will increase the number of Sandvik underground trucks, loaders and drills at the site to more than 100 units.
Sandvik’s Patrick Murphy said the company’s intelligent machines have supported Kamoa-Kakula’s operations since 2019 and that the latest selection reflects the customer’s focus on productivity, efficiency and safety.
Kamoa Copper has also expanded its autonomous mining capabilities. In May 2026, the company purchased three additional AutoMine Lite systems, bringing the total number of such installations at the operation to four.
The Kamoa-Kakula complex currently has a 2026 copper production target of 290,000–310,000 tonnes. The operation is also targeting annual copper production of approximately 500,000 tonnes from 2028, making equipment reliability and operational efficiency increasingly important as production expands.
Kamoa Copper Managing Director Annebel Oosthuizen said the decision to reinvest in Sandvik equipment follows several years of reliable operational performance. The company highlighted the trucks’ and loaders’ availability, productivity and reliability as key factors behind the purchase.
Sandvik maintains a dedicated technical support team and vendor-managed inventory facility at Kamoa-Kakula to support equipment availability. The mine is located approximately 25 km west of Kolwezi and 270 km from Lubumbashi in the Central African Copperbelt.
The latest contract further strengthens Sandvik’s position in underground mining equipment as copper producers invest in capacity expansion and automation. It also follows Sandvik’s recent order from Mexican mining contractor Constructora Minera Villagómez for underground mining equipment.
Product Impact and Chemical Commodity Price Impact
The order is positive for copper production, as additional trucks, loaders and autonomous systems should improve mine productivity, equipment availability and operational efficiency. Higher production at Kamoa-Kakula could support global copper supply, particularly as the operation targets around 500,000 tonnes annually from 2028. However, the immediate supply impact is limited because deliveries will occur from late 2026 through 2027. For chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, the move could have a mildly bearish medium-term influence on copper-related industrial demand pressures if additional supply eases copper prices. However, stronger mining activity could simultaneously increase demand for mining chemicals, explosives-related inputs and industrial lubricants, providing limited upside for those markets. Overall, the direct chemical-price impact should remain modest.
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