China has sent a fleet of fully electric mining trucks to a copper mining project in Zambia.
This is a significant step in the field of green mining, as this delivery includes 31 innovative vehicles, marking, according to experts, the first deployment of electric mining trucks in an African project.
Manufactured by the Chinese company Breton Technology, these zero-emission vehicles will be operated by the African branch of the state-owned China 15th Metallurgical Construction Group at a copper mining site. Officials describe this deployment as the first large-scale use in Africa of 100% electric heavy equipment for mining operations.
Li Wenjie, president of the China Commercial Construction Company in Africa, explained that “this open-pit mining site in Zambia is an example of our cooperation with Breton. The delivery includes 31 vehicles, and to our knowledge, this is the first large-scale deployment of electric mining trucks in Africa. This will help modernize local mining equipment while reducing environmental impact.”
Breton Technology is tasked with providing a carbon-neutral mining robot system, integrating autonomous electric vehicles and clean energy technologies. Teng Fei, head of overseas operations for Breton, explained that “our vehicles are equipped with numerous sensors to make the entire fleet intelligent. We also offer an intelligent fleet management system, allowing operators to track, control, and optimize productivity via advanced screens and software.”
He added that solutions for autonomous driving at the terminal level are also under development. ” We believe that in the future, fleets of driverless mining vehicles will be commonplace in Africa ,” he stated.
This initiative underlines China’s efforts to position itself as a leader in green mining technologies , even though it comes amid constant monitoring of the environmental practices of Chinese projects in the region.
The Breton trucks are part of an integrated system incorporating autonomous driving capabilities, renewable energy integration, and robotic infrastructure. “This project marks a decisive step forward in modernizing African mining through environmentally friendly innovation ,” said Li Wenjie of the Africa division of China 15th Metallurgical Construction Group. The vehicles, currently en route to Durban, South Africa, will enter service after a 20- to 25-day sea voyage.
Teng Fei emphasized that “autonomous and zero-emission fleets represent the future of mining. Africa’s adoption of this model could become a global benchmark.” This initiative is part of China’s commitment to invest $5 billion in Zambia’s mining industry by 2031 to boost copper production, a metal essential for renewable energy technologies.
However, this partnership is taking place against a backdrop of environmental controversy. In February 2023, a dam collapse at the Chinese Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine released 50 million liters of acidic wastewater into the Kafue River system , contaminating water sources more than 100 kilometers downstream. This incident has fueled local concerns about the environmental impact of foreign mining projects, despite promises of sustainable practices.
Electric trucks mark a transition towards low-carbon operations, but experts point out that systemic challenges remain. The Zambian government has been urged to strengthen oversight of mining activities, particularly by balancing economic development with community and environmental protections.
The success of this initiative could depend on the ability of advanced technologies to mitigate the historical tensions between industrial growth and ecological preservation in the region.
Source : Chine Magazine
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