Hitachi Zambia and FQM Kansanshi: Powering Sustainable Mining Through Innovation and Community Engagement

As dawn’s first glow bathes the copper pits of Kansanshi and marathon runners surge past cheering villagers, a new chapter of partnership—and possibility—unfolds in Zambia.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia and First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Kansanshi Mine have embarked on a groundbreaking journey—one that began when engineers watched the first prototype battery dump truck roll silently across Kansanshi’s copper‑rich earth, its quiet electric hum echoing beneath the cheers of marathon spectators lining the pit rim— redefining mining practices through a strategic zero-emission partnership and meaningful community engagements, exemplified by their successful collaboration on the annual Kansanshi Marathon.


 

A Milestone in Sustainable Mining Solutions

With Kansanshi’s battery‑electric haul fleet projected to slash more than 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, this initiative moves beyond aspiration to measurable climate action.

In March 2023, Hitachi and FQM announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI), marking a significant leap toward sustainable mining at Kansanshi, one of Zambia’s most prominent copper-gold mines. Central to this collaboration is the deployment of Hitachi’s fully electric rigid frame dump trucks, fitted with advanced battery technology from ABB. Scheduled for delivery by the end of FY2023, these battery dump trucks represent a transformative step—cutting per‑haul emissions by up to 70 % compared with their diesel predecessors—in reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions, directly supporting FQM’s ambitious sustainability goals.

Leveraging existing infrastructure, including trolley assist systems, Kansanshi mine is uniquely suited for this pioneering technology. John Gregory, Director of Mining for First Quantum, highlighted the strategic advantage: “We have spent over a decade refining trolley assist technology with Hitachi. This battery-powered advancement is a natural evolution, pushing us closer to our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.” He added, “Hitachi’s unwavering commitment to decarbonisation and its clear roadmap for low‑carbon innovation make it the ideal partner for our sustainability journey.”

Sonosuke Ishii, Senior Vice President of Hitachi Construction Machinery, emphasized, “This initiative with FQM represents not just a technological breakthrough, but a broader commitment to a sustainable and safe future for mining globally.”

Community and Health: The Kansanshi Marathon

This partnership transcends technological advancements, deeply embedding itself in community development. The annual Kansanshi Marathon, set to celebrate its third edition in May 2025, underscores both organizations’ dedication to community health, inclusivity, and environmental consciousness. FQM's Assistant General Manager, Axel Kottgen, stated, “Our vision goes beyond mining operations; we focus on the health, well‑being, and unity of the people around us.” To visibly champion this vision, Hitachi supported the race with bright orange hydration stations, on‑course power‑generators, and technical shirts emblazoned with the Hitachi logo—turning every refresh point and finish‑line photo into an unmistakable symbol of the partnership.

The marathon has rapidly become the largest sports event in North-Western Zambia, with an anticipated participation of over 2,300 runners in 2025, reflecting a 40% growth from the previous year. The event also champions inclusivity, introducing a wheelchair and differently-abled category for the first time. Local participant Emmanuel Juju commended this effort, noting, “This initiative significantly promotes diversity and equality, aligning perfectly with the national Clean, Green, and Healthy Campaign.”

Amplifying Impact Through Strategic Collaboration

Hitachi Zambia’s collaboration with FQM extends further into social and economic investments, including establishing an in-country engine repair facility aimed at boosting local employment and skills development. These initiatives demonstrate a holistic commitment to Zambia’s social, environmental, and economic landscapes.

Through strategic storytelling, multimedia campaigns, and high-impact community programs, Hitachi Zambia and FQM Kansanshi continue to exemplify a powerful partnership model—proving that sustainable mining and community prosperity can, indeed, thrive side by side
 

Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia Co. Ltd.

Adress: Plot2350/M, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Road, P.O. Box 30182 Lusaka Zambia
Contact:
Tel. +260 211-285360, 285361, 285362

Ever since the Liebherr Group joined the mining industry more than 50 years ago, its products have set standards in open-pit mining operations around the world. All of Liebherr’s mining trucks, dozers and excavators provide customers with the best possible performance for the lowest cost per tonne thanks to the advanced technologies and reliable components built into every machine. The durability of these machines, even in the toughest of mining conditions, is thanks to Liebherr’s decades of experience in designing, manufacturing and supporting mining equipment. Over the years, the company has strived to continuously improve its product offerings by incorporating feedback from customers and its own experienced technicians into the designs of each machine.
 

Liebherr also provides a comprehensive range of low and zero emission solutions across its product portfolio to support mining customers wherever they may be in their decarbonisation journeys. Since 2022, the company has offered low emission options for all of its loading and hauling products and is committed to offering completely fossil-fuel-free mining equipment for hauling, digging and dozing by 2030.

Alongside its zero emission solutions, Liebherr also offers technology products that take the performance of Liebherr machines to the next level. IoMine, Liebherr’s suite of technology products, is designed to help customers enhance their decision-making, safety and sustainability – all while reducing costs. The three product families within IoMine – Automate, Operate and Maintain – provide solutions that help customers to optimise different areas of their mining operations

Liebherr customers in Zambia are supported by the Group’s sales and service company in the country, Liebherr Zambia. Liebherr Zambia provides machinery, technical support and spare parts to customers in the mining and earthmoving segment. And, in recent years, Liebherr Zambia has played a significant role in developing product innovations such as Liebherr’s Trolley Assist System for haul trucks.
 

Liebherr Zambia Ltd.

Zambia

175 Kudu Road
Kabulonga
Lusaka
Zambia

In the high-stakes world of copper mining, where every second of uptime counts, partnerships are forged not just on contracts—but on trust, consistency, and technical depth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the two-decade collaboration between Spectra Oil Corporation Limited and First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi, Zambia.

Established in 1994 as Zambia’s largest wholly-owned oil marketing company, Spectra Oil has grown from a local lubricant supplier into a regional industrial energy partner serving the Central African Copperbelt. Its longstanding service to Kansanshi—Africa’s largest copper mine by output—epitomizes how Zambian enterprise can scale to meet world-class industrial standards.

What began as a supply relationship at FQM’s early Bwana Mkubwa operation evolved in 2005 into a strategic partnership at Kansanshi. Today, Spectra is deeply embedded in the mine’s operations—providing specialist lubricants, greases, and technical support that are essential to both mobile fleet and fixed plant performance. From the high-pressure demands of haul truck hydraulics to the precise lubrication of crushing equipment, Spectra’s tailored solutions support the day-to-day reliability of Kansanshi’s expanding infrastructure.

With the S3 Expansion ramping up production to over 25 million tonnes of ore per year, Spectra’s role has only grown more critical. The company’s ability to engineer site-specific greases—such as those used in Kansanshi’s crushers—has not only improved equipment longevity but also created new opportunities beyond Zambia, with those same formulations now in use at FQM’s operations in Mauritania.

Behind the scenes, Spectra’s investment in supply chain resilience ensures uninterrupted service, even in the face of global procurement disruptions. Its depots in Lusaka and Kitwe, supported by cross-border logistics to the DRC, form a regional supply web built for reliability.

But what makes this partnership stand out isn’t just technical compatibility—it’s cultural alignment. As a fully Zambian-owned company, Spectra shares Kansanshi’s commitment to local empowerment, environmental responsibility, and sustainable growth. From healthcare and hydrotherapy sponsorships in Lusaka to participation in agricultural and community development initiatives, Spectra mirrors Kansanshi’s community-first ethos.

“In mining, trust is built over time,” says Robert Ngoma, National Sales Manager at Spectra Oil. “Our ability to grow with Kansanshi—and evolve with their needs—speaks to the heart of what long-term partnerships should look like.”

As Kansanshi’s S3 project redefines Zambia’s role in the global copper supply chain, Spectra Oil remains firmly in stride—powering operations, protecting equipment, and proving that local capability, when matched with technical precision, can deliver global-class performance.


Head Office
Plot 1691 Lumumba Road
P.O. Box 35402
Lusaka, Zambia

+260 211 220728
+260 977 740 683/4
+260 966 161 912