KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY:
PROJECT DIRECTED BY: GARY
SMITH
KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY:
POWERING A NEW ERA OF RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DRC
In the heart of Africa’s Copperbelt, where the red earth of Lualaba meets the horizon and the air hums with industry, Kamoto Copper Company stands as one of the most significant mining operations on the continent. Based in Kolwezi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the company plays a central role in producing two metals that have become essential to the world’s clean energy transition: copper and cobalt. These materials are more than industrial commodities. They are the foundation of the technologies driving electrification, renewable energy and digital connectivity, and their responsible production is a matter of global importance.
The name Kamoto comes from the Swahili word meaning “small fire.” It is an apt symbol of a company that began as a spark within the DRC’s vast Copperbelt and has since grown into a major force in international mining. From
its early operations to its present-day sophistication, Kamoto Copper Company has pursued a strategy of integration and long-term sustainability. Its portfolio includes two open-pit mines, KOV and Mashamba East, one underground mine known as KTO, the Kamoto concentrator (KTC), and the Luilu refinery, which together form a complete chain from extraction to refined product. Each facility contributes to a process designed for efficiency, safety and environmental responsibility, ensuring that every tonne of copper and cobalt hydroxide produced reflects not only operational excellence but also respect for the land and the people who work it.
Kolwezi, often referred to as the capital of the Copperbelt, has long been synonymous with natural wealth. Yet in recent years it has also become a symbol of transformation. Modernisation of mining techniques, investment in
DRIVING MINING INNOVATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
We specialize in field engineering and technology integration across the mining value chain. Our tailored solutions help mining companies bridge technology gaps, minimize disruptions, and achieve next-level optimization.
Our Expertise
Fleet Management
Payload & Maintenance Monitoring
Fatigue & Collision Avoidance Systems
Mesh & Point-to-Point Networks
Radio Communications
Analytics & Visualization Platforms
Why SYM Technologies?
Strong project & change management frameworks
OEM partnerships for sustainable technology rollouts
Tailored hardware maintenance & software support
Insights-driven analytics to empower decisionmaking
Proven Experience
20+ years’ combined expertise in mining technology deployment & maintenance
Projects delivered across DRC and Zambia with leading OEMs
Successful implementations for Glencore, Barrick, and others
COPPER COMPANY
SYM Technologies Group – Driving Smarter, Safer, More Efficient Mining
In modern mining, success depends on more than powerful machines and experienced crews. It’s about using data, insight, and connected technology to work smarter, safer, and more efficiently. That’s exactly what SYM Technologies Group helps its clients achieve.
Based in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, SYM Technologies Group specialises in helping mining companies optimise operations through intelligent technology integration and data-driven decision-making. Their goal is clear – to help clients turn complex data into practical insight that improves performance on the ground.
What sets SYM apart is its understanding of how mining really works. The team doesn’t just install systems; they collaborate with clients to make sure every solution delivers genuine value in day-to-day operations. Their services cover the full process – from data structuring and analytics to hardware installation, commissioning, and ongoing support.
A key part of SYM’s offering is “Personalised Analytics.” This service replaces static spreadsheets with modern, visual dashboards that give managers instant clarity. The dashboards make it easy to identify trends, spot inefficiencies, and make informed decisions faster. It’s a smarter, more visual way to keep track of performance and productivity.
Behind the scenes, SYM’s “Integration and Data Structuring” service ensures that systems connect seamlessly. Mining sites often run multiple technologies that don’t naturally communicate with each other. SYM builds the framework that allows data to flow reliably
across platforms, giving clients a single, trustworthy source of information.
Project management is another area where SYM excels. The company supports clients throughout the entire implementation process – from selecting the right project methodology to training teams and managing change effectively. Installations follow strict OEM standards, with every piece of hardware tested and validated before going live.
At the heart of SYM Technologies’ approach are the values of safety, transparency, and quality. The company prides itself on building partnerships based on trust and collaboration. Every project begins with a detailed analysis of cost bases and performance drivers, ensuring the final solution delivers measurable results.
SYM has extensive experience working with technologies such as Fleet Management Systems, Machine Guidance, Asset Health Monitoring, Collision Avoidance Systems, Decision Support Systems, and Wi-Fi network infrastructure. This broad technical capability allows them to deliver integrated, reliable systems tailored to each client’s needs.
Ultimately, SYM Technologies Group is more than a technology provider. It’s a trusted partner helping mining operations become more connected, efficient, and future-ready. By combining technical expertise with a hands-on, people-first approach, SYM is setting a new standard for how mining businesses embrace digital transformation and achieve sustainable success.
www.symtechnologiesgroup.com
Powering Progress in Every Environment – The Elephant Trade Story
In a world where industry demands precision, safety and reliability, Elephant Trade has emerged as a trusted partner delivering world-class electrical, instrumentation and PLC automation services across the globe. With a heritage built on engineering excellence and hands-on expertise, the company continues to redefine how technical support is delivered in some of the most challenging industrial environments.
Headquartered in London and operating across mining, construction and energy sectors, Elephant Trade specialises in providing fully integrated technical solutions, from electrical construction and commissioning to ongoing maintenance and automation. The company’s dynamic teams, comprising both local and expatriate specialists, are known for their ability to mobilise rapidly and perform under pressure while maintaining the highest international standards of safety and compliance.
At the heart of Elephant Trade’s success is its commitment to people and precision. Skilled
technicians, control engineers and instrumentation experts work side by side to ensure seamless integration of complex systems, supporting clients through every stage of a project’s lifecycle. Each assignment is guided by the company’s hallmark approach: adaptability, accountability and absolute attention to detail.
Whether powering up a remote mining site, streamlining automation for an industrial plant or enhancing performance through smart instrumentation, Elephant Trade delivers more than just technical solutions, it delivers confidence.
As industries continue to evolve, Elephant Trade stands ready to support the next generation of progress, combining technical innovation with the reliability and integrity that have defined its name for over two decades.
Elephant Trade. Engineering excellence without boundaries.
KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY
local infrastructure and a focus on community development have changed the landscape from one defined purely by extraction to one that embodies progress and possibility. Within this evolution, Kamoto Copper Company occupies a defining position. Its open-pit operations use advanced fleet management systems and precise monitoring to manage ore recovery with minimal waste, while the KTO underground mine relies on highly trained teams and advanced engineering to ensure production continuity under demanding conditions.
At the Luilu refinery, the process comes full circle. Copper cathodes and cobalt hydroxide are produced under strict quality control to meet international export standards. What emerges is not just refined metal but proof of an industrial system capable of consistency and transparency. The refinery’s integration with the concentrator and mine network enables a streamlined flow of material, reducing logistics costs and environmental impact while improving traceability.
Safety lies at the heart of the company’s culture. Mining is a demanding environment that tests both technology and human resilience, but Kamoto Copper Company treats safety as an essential value rather than a procedural requirement. Continuous training, predictive maintenance, and open communication underpin a working environment built on trust and accountability. Mechanical wear is tracked before it becomes failure, operations are monitored in real time, and environmental sensors ensure that activities remain within safe thresholds. By embedding these practices in daily operations, the company reinforces a mindset where responsibility and performance are inseparable.
Equally important is the development of local skills. The workforce at Kamoto Copper Company is primarily Congolese, and structured training programmes ensure that expertise remains within the country long after projects evolve.
Employees receive instruction in engineering, technical operations, and environmental management, gaining access to career pathways that strengthen both individual prospects and national capacity. This investment in people aligns with the wider ambition of transforming the DRC’s natural resources into sustainable economic empowerment.
The global conversation around mining has changed dramatically in the last decade. As demand for copper and cobalt has risen, so too have expectations around environmental stewardship and ethical sourcing. Kamoto Copper Company recognises this reality and integrates sustainability into every stage of production. Water use is managed through closed-loop systems to minimise discharge, tailings are treated and monitored carefully, and biodiversity programmes are underway to rehabilitate land as operations progress. Where land has been disturbed, replanting and soil restoration initiatives aim to return the terrain to a productive ecological state.
The company also invests directly in its surrounding communities. Education, healthcare and infrastructure projects are central to its social responsibility strategy, ensuring that the benefits of mining extend well beyond the site perimeter. Roads, schools and clinics supported by KCC help to anchor local growth, while partnerships with regional authorities strengthen governance and shared accountability. The result is a social framework that reflects mutual respect between enterprise and community.
Copper and cobalt occupy a special place in the story of modern technology. Copper’s unmatched conductivity makes it indispensable for renewable energy systems, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure, while cobalt remains crucial to the batteries that power everything from mobile devices to grid storage. Without these materials, the global transition to cleaner energy would stall. Kamoto Copper Company’s production contributes directly to this transformation. By providing responsibly
KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY
sourced copper and cobalt, it supports manufacturers around the world in their shift toward sustainability. Analysts predict that demand for copper could double by 2035, with cobalt rising by more than 70 percent. For the DRC, which holds some of the largest reserves of both, this represents not only opportunity but responsibility.
Technology now drives much of that responsibility. Modern mining depends on data as much as on machinery. Kamoto Copper Company has embraced digital tools to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability. Sensors and data analytics track production variables from ore quality to equipment performance, enabling managers to make informed decisions in real time. Predictive maintenance systems reduce downtime and improve safety, while digital documentation strengthens traceability across the supply chain. This digital integration ensures that customers and regulators can follow materials from mine to market with confidence in their ethical provenance.
The global cobalt market has been particularly sensitive to questions of traceability. Ethical sourcing has become a decisive factor for industries reliant on rechargeable batteries, and companies around the world are scrutinising their supply chains. Kamoto Copper Company’s adherence to international standards of transparency and responsible production provides reassurance that the cobalt entering global circuits supports, rather than undermines, sustainable development.
The company’s influence extends well beyond its gates. Through its procurement and contracting policies, it supports a wide ecosystem of local suppliers and service providers. This multiplier effect strengthens the regional economy, stimulating entrepreneurship and helping small businesses to flourish. In Kolwezi and the wider Lualaba Province, the infrastructure improvements and local spending associated with the company’s operations have tangible social and
KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY
economic impact. By sourcing materials and services locally wherever possible, Kamoto Copper Company reinforces a cycle of reinvestment that benefits the entire region.
Like all major producers, KCC faces an increasingly complex global environment. Commodity prices fluctuate, export regulations evolve, and environmental scrutiny intensifies. The company’s response has been to focus on resilience. By aligning operational stability with sustainability objectives, it maintains the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions while continuing to deliver consistent output. Recent uncertainties in global cobalt exports have demonstrated how essential that adaptability can be, and KCC’s disciplined management has allowed it to maintain progress even amid shifting external pressures.
The long-term fundamentals remain strong. As the world races to decarbonise, the need for copper and cobalt will only deepen. Demand for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles and advanced electronics depends on a secure and responsible supply chain. Kamoto Copper Company, with its integrated model and commitment to sustainable practice, occupies a pivotal position in that chain. Its operations illustrate how resource extraction can coexist with innovation, environmental care and social progress.
The story of Kamoto Copper Company is not just about the production of metals. It is about the evolution of an entire industrial philosophy within the DRC. It reflects how a company, grounded in one of the world’s richest mineral regions, can redefine what responsible mining looks like. The “small fire” that gave the company its name has become a guiding light for a new era of African mining, one that values integrity and long-term vision as much as output.
As the energy transition accelerates, the demand for transparency and sustainability will continue to shape the global minerals industry. Kamoto
KAMOTO COPPER COMPANY
Copper Company’s ongoing investment in technology, people and environmental stewardship shows that progress need not come at the expense of principle. Its operations in Kolwezi stand as evidence that the future of mining can be both productive and ethical, both profitable and respectful of the planet.
In the broader narrative of global development, the DRC’s mineral wealth is often described as both a blessing and a challenge. Companies like Kamoto Copper Company are proving that with the right balance of innovation, discipline and social responsibility, it can be far more of the former. Every shipment of copper and cobalt leaving Kolwezi represents not only a contribution to the world’s clean energy future but also a commitment to a model of progress that values sustainability as a measure of success.
From the mines that stretch across Lualaba’s copper-rich soil to the refinery that refines and ships its output to international markets, Kamoto Copper Company continues to shape the story of modern mining in Africa. It has built a foundation on technical mastery, environmental awareness and community engagement, showing that a “small fire” can illuminate a path toward global transformation.
www.kamotocoppercompany.com