Deep underground at Shaft 1 in Konkola Mine, a quiet change is transforming the start of every shift.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has introduced modern underground personnel carriers aimed at reducing the long walks miners often face before reaching their workstations. While the change may seem simple on the surface, its impact could be significant for safety, productivity, and day-to-day operations underground.
Moving thousands of metres below the surface is part of daily life for mine workers. The journey can be physically demanding before the actual work even begins. KCM says the new carriers are helping employees reach their destinations faster, arrive less fatigued, and focus more effectively on their tasks.
According to KCM Acting Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Mewett, the latest transport system is designed to improve the movement of both workers and ore throughout the mine.
“The latest model of underground transport we’ve deployed makes movement easier for both our people and the minerals we produce. It’s about reducing fatigue for our teams while improving the flow of ore through the mine,” he said.
The rollout forms part of a wider modernization programme taking place across KCM’s underground operations. By cutting travel time and improving access to work areas, the company believes the carriers will help reduce fatigue-related risks while boosting overall efficiency.
Konkola Mine Director Cornelius Chimbanga described the development as a major step forward for operations underground.
“Underground at KDMP, we’ve seen real modernization driven by this latest transportation. It’s transforming how we operate,” he said.
The investment also complements KCM’s ongoing high-speed rail rehabilitation programme, which was launched last year as part of efforts to improve underground transport infrastructure and ore movement.
During a recent visit to Shaft 1, KCM Group CEO Deshnee Naidoo highlighted another shift taking place beneath the surface: the growing number of women taking up key roles in mining operations.
From engineering and geology to mine planning and underground production, Naidoo said women are increasingly helping shape the future of the industry.
As KCM continues rebuilding and expanding its operations, the company says its focus remains on combining technology, safety, and workforce development to strengthen productivity and support Zambia’s mining sector.
For workers heading underground each day, the difference may be felt long before the first piece of ore is moved.