Sandvik secures Skr650m order for Khoemacau Copper Mine expansion

Swedish engineering group Sandvik has secured a major contract to supply an underground mining equipment fleet for the Khoemacau Copper Mine in Botswana. The order, valued at approximately Skr650m ($68.55m), was recorded in the second quarter of 2026 and was placed by China-based JCHX Mining Management.

The agreement encompasses a range of heavy machinery, including loaders, trucks, and drills. It also integrates digital monitoring systems, specifically Sandvik’s Remote Monitoring Service, alongside AutoMine automation technology for the loaders and select drills. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2026, with the majority of units expected to be supplied between 2026 and 2028.

Khoemacau is currently undergoing a significant expansion phase, with plans to more than double its copper output from 60,000 tonnes per annum to 130,000 tonnes per annum. The mine, located in north-west Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, is a copper and silver operation with an estimated lifespan exceeding two decades. It employs more than 2,200 staff and contractors, 90% of whom are from Botswana.

The joint venture structure sees MMG holding a controlling 55% stake in the mine, leveraging its operational and project management expertise. The partnership aims to capitalise on increasing global copper demand, positioning Khoemacau’s output as a critical supply source for international industries, including electrification, renewable power, electric vehicle manufacturing, and construction.

This development follows Khoemacau’s finalisation of a $936m feasibility study for its expansion project in 2025. In a separate move earlier in the year, Sandvik also secured an order from Glencore in April 2026 for three DR413i rotary blasthole drill rigs to support operations at the Bajo de la Alumbrera copper mine in Argentina.