Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Zambia’s largest copper producer, has taken a monumental step by resuming operations at its Chingola B shaft. The historic reopening, which occurred after an 18-year hiatus, was led by the group’s CEO, Deshnee Naidoo, and marks not just a significant operational revival but a hopeful trajectory for Zambia’s economy.

“This is more than a milestone; it symbolises the continued growth and transformation of KCM,” Naidoo said during the event.  Following the successful first blast from Chingola B, Naidoo revealed that the Nchanga operations would produce an impressive 200 tons of copper per month, a promising sign of sustained productivity.

The reopening of the Chingola B shaft is also set to have a positive impact on the local community. In a move aimed at bolstering employment opportunities, the company has already hired 80 individuals and plans to recruit an additional 100 workers in the coming months. This initiative not only enhances local job prospects but also aligns with KCM’s commitment to fostering socio-economic development in the region.

With the reopening of the Chingola B shaft, KCM is poised to play a pivotal role in reinforcing Zambia’s position in the copper market, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic recovery in the post-pandemic landscape.

Recent arrests involving senior police officials and members of special investigation units have intensified concerns about divisions within South Africa’s security sector, particularly regarding the fight against organised crime and illegal mining activities.

As allegations emerge of internal factions building cases against one another, uncertainty continues to grow around accountability and trust within law enforcement structures.

Against this backdrop, the 5th annual Mine Security Conference will take place on July 1-2 at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, bringing together mining companies, government enforcement agencies, academics, and private security firms to strengthen collaboration against shared threats.

The conference aims to improve coordination between stakeholders operating in increasingly complex and dangerous environments linked to illegal mining, organised crime, infrastructure sabotage, and mineral smuggling.

Bushtec, a pioneering force in tented camps and solutions, has announced a significant brand evolution, unifying its 55-year heritage as Canvas and Tent and a consortium of specialised brands under a singular Bushtec master brand. A proudly South African success story, the group has grown from its world-renowned Canvas and Tent manufacturing origins to include global design and delivery capabilities for its diverse clients across the mining, military, hospitality, adventure and disaster relief sectors.

For mine owners, project leaders, and EPCM partners, the unified Bushtec brand represents a single, trusted partner for rapidly redeployable, modular infrastructure. The offering supports every phase of the mining lifecycle, from exploration camps to semi-permanent hardwall camps and site establishment of non-process infrastructure. Solutions include full turnkey workforce accommodation, management lodgings, kitchens, medical clinics, offices, ablution, dining and maintenance facilities. This evolution enhances Bushtec‘s ability to deliver these essential assets with superior quality control, supply chain resilience, and unmatched deployment speed, enabling a faster path to operations.

“By unifying our extensive capabilities under the Bushtec master brand, we are reinforcing our promise to the mining sector: to be a single, reliable turnkey partner in creating safe, cost-effective infrastructure that supports productivity and enhances workforce wellbeing,” says Hans Hillebrand, Group CEO of Canvas and Tent. “Our brand promise is the value of experience, drawing on a legacy of successfully delivering over 1,000 camps across 83 countries. In the world’s toughest terrains, we show the value of experience. Our commitment is to deliver dependable, high-performance solutions that are engineered to last, providing tangible value from initial deployment through the entire project lifecycle.”

Bushtec’s refined focus is on delivering exceptional lifecycle value and a lower total cost of ownership, manufacturing from its over 500-strong base in Ladysmith that is ISO 14001 2015 and ISO 9001 2015 certified. ​ Every Bushtec structure is engineered for longevity and performance in the most remote and challenging environments. ​ Core engineering strengths include military-grade ripstop canvas, corrosion-resistant components for coastal sites, and advanced climate control systems. Structures are rot, mould and mildew proof, wind resistant, water resistant, UV stabilised and fire-retardant. Pre-engineered, modular kits are designed for rapid installation, minimising logistical complexity and maximising operational uptime.

Following the tremendous success of the 2024 Forklift Driver Competition, Lifting Africa is proud to announce that Transvaal Training has once again been confirmed as the official judging partner for the upcoming Forklift Driver Competition taking place at Electra Mining Africa.

The return of Transvaal Training reinforces the competition’s strong focus on operator excellence, safety standards, and professional skills development in the materials-handling industry. Their involvement as judges during the 2024 competition was widely praised for ensuring fair, professional, and technically accurate assessments throughout the event.

Hosted by Lifting Africa and supported by Platinum Sponsors Acrow Racking & Shelving and Jungheinrich, the Forklift Driver Competition has rapidly established itself as one of the most exciting live industry activations at Electra Mining Africa.

Industry Expertise Ensuring World-Class Standards

Transvaal Training is one of South Africa’s leading operator training and skills development providers, with extensive experience in forklift operator certification, lifting machinery training, occupational safety, and compliance education. Their team of experienced instructors and assessors brings valuable technical expertise and real-world operational knowledge to the judging process.

Competitors will be evaluated across a series of practical challenges designed to simulate real operating conditions, with judging criteria focused on:

• Safety compliance
• Precision handling
• Operational efficiency
• Equipment control
• Technical competence
• Professionalism under pressure

The involvement of Transvaal Training ensures that the competition maintains the highest possible industry standards while promoting the importance of accredited operator training and workplace safety.

Building on the Momentum of 2024

 The 2024 competition attracted significant attention from the materials handling, logistics, warehousing, and mining sectors, drawing skilled operators from across South Africa and creating a high-energy environment that showcased the professionalism of forklift operators within modern industry. “The response to the 2024 competition exceeded all expectations,” says Surita Marx, owner of Lifting Africa and organiser of the competition. “Having Transvaal Training return as our official judges adds tremendous credibility to the competition and further strengthens our commitment to promoting safety, skills development, and operator excellence across the industry.”

Entries Open for Licensed Operators

Licensed forklift operators from across Southern Africa are encouraged to enter and compete for substantial cash prizes, industry recognition, and the prestigious title of Forklift Driver Champion.

Participants will compete live at Electra Mining Africa in front of thousands of exhibition visitors, industry professionals, and media representatives.

Entries can be submitted via: www.forkliftdrivercompetition.co.za or email forkliftcompetition@liftingafrica.co.za

Affordable and renewable energy is reshaping the 21st century, and South Africa has seen this transformation firsthand. Severe electricity shortages spurred a boom in renewable energy legislation, deployment, and adoption, helping renewables surpass coal globally in 2025. Yet the Just Energy Transition (JET) is about more than clean power; it’s about people, skills, and opportunity.

That’s the mission behind YDE Lumen30, a training programme launched in April 2025 by Yellow Door Energy (YDE), a leading renewable energy IPP, and Actis Acts, the charitable arm of investor Actis. The initiative recruited 30 young people from Alexandra, Johannesburg, equipping them with technical and business skills to deliver solar installations. Managed by DevRani Consult and implemented by Unnati Training Academy, the three‑month programme combined classroom learning with hands‑on experience.

Graduates proved their skills by installing an 18 kWp solar PV system and a 15 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Ububele Educational and Psychotherapy Trust. The hybrid system now powers the centre’s property, supporting lights, appliances, and therapy equipment, while programmable timers manage high‑load systems like geysers. Ububele’s leadership praised the installation as a “profound impact” on their ability to provide uninterrupted mental health services to children and families in Alexandra.

The programme’s success is already creating ripple effects. LF Electrical, the EPC partner, offered employment to three graduates, highlighting how renewable projects can drive social change beyond energy supply. “They provide the foundation for wider social change,” said MD Tsakani Mbowana.

Mining remains one of Africa’s most critical economic sectors, supplying the world with essential minerals, precious metals, and industrial raw materials. Today, the competitiveness of African mining is increasingly shaped not only by resource endowment but by the quality of logistics infrastructure linking mines to processing plants and export terminals. Governments and private investors across the continent are expanding railways, modernizing ports, and developing mineral processing capacity to reduce transport costs, improve reliability, and retain more value locally. These investments are reshaping mining value chains and strengthening Africa’s place in global supply networks.

In Southern Africa, South Africa continues to anchor the region’s mining logistics ecosystem. Its heavy-haul rail corridors remain vital for coal and iron ore exports, with the Sishen–Saldanha line serving as a lifeline between Northern Cape mines and the Port of Saldanha. Upgrades to rail capacity, signaling systems, and port handling equipment aim to remove bottlenecks and boost throughput. Simultaneously, investments in mineral processing and beneficiation reflect a broader push to shift from raw mineral exports to higher-value products.

In Ghana’s already tense mining landscape, fresh turbulence has erupted as Gold Fields confronts a massive $740 million lawsuit filed by Engineers & Planners Co. (E&P). The dispute follows E&P’s takeover of the Damang mine, an asset managed by Gold Fields for more than twenty years.

At the heart of the legal battle are claims for damages: $474.9 million tied to the Tarkwa mine and $264.7 million linked to Damang. The timing is striking, as this lawsuit surfaces just after Guinea resolved a separate mining dispute with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), underscoring how swiftly volatility can reshape the global mining industry.

As the proceedings escalate to arbitration, Gold Fields faces looming uncertainties, particularly regarding the renewal of mining leases for the Tarkwa project, which are set to expire next year. E&P has already made plans to secure the Tarkwa mine, and after successfully selling 100% of its first Damang gold output to the Ghana Gold Board, they will likely win the bid.

The situation is further complicated by the connections between E&P’s CEO Ibrahim Mahama and Ghanaian President John Mahama, raising speculation about potential local partnerships that could influence the tendering process for Tarkwa. Observers suggest it is plausible that the mine could be leased to another Ghanaian firm, following a similar trajectory as the Damang transition.