Will the real copper giants please stand up?
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Will the real copper giants please stand up?
As the world’s demand for natural resources increase, so does demand for mining equipment.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine
One of my favourite things to do when visiting mines or quarries in Africa during the annual WhyAfrica Road Trip, is to make notes of equipment on site, both in the pit, underground and in the processing plant.
Because I’m curious I ask a lot of questions about the performance of equipment. I make sure that when we visit project sites, that I interview the equipment operators, general managers and operational managers, not only about performance, but also about carbon emissions, environmental impact after-sales-service etc.
I must say, it’s interesting to compare these remarks and comments with what one reads in marketing material or what sales representatives tell you during interviews or lately on video clips on social media. But let’s leave it there.
What is needed to build RDTs?
Another interesting pursuit is to try and guess which minerals, and how much, is needed in the manufacturing of some of these gargantuan machines.
For example, during a recent site visit to a copper mine in Zambia, I spotted this massive Rigid Dump Truck (RDT) and wondered not only how many different minerals are needed to build it, but also how much of the actual copper that the truck hauls around the pit and processing plant, goes back into manufacturing more RDTs to extract even larger volumes of copper.
As demand for natural resources, and especially copper, increases, so does demand for RDTs and other mining equipment. It’s projected that 2588 new RDT units will be sold in 2028 as more mines come online over the next three years.
Is copper critical to build RDTs?
Interestinlgy, at most, only about 200kg of copper is used to build one older RDT like this Euclid in picture. Modern electric or hybrid models use more than 300kg per unit as greater volumes are needed to manufacture advanced motors and electronics.
Nevertheless, copper is still a critical material in the manufacturing of all large mining trucks.
Other core minerals needed to manufacture RDTs include iron ore (for steel), aluminum, nickel, chromium, and manganese. Additionally, Rare Earth Elements and titanium may be used for specialised components.
Copper, used mainly for electrical and electronic systems in RDTs, has high conductivity and durability and its corrosion resistance makes it indispensable for reliable operation in tough mining and quarrying environments.
Preparing for the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip
The WhyAfrica team has already bought new notebooks and left a few pages open for notes on mining and processing equipment. We love comparing our notes when we return after 45 days on the road and visiting more than 15 mining and quarrying sites.
Our 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip departs from Johannesburg on 29 August 2025. Remember, WhyAfrica members get’s all the insights. To become a WhyAfrica member visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.
Image: A Euclid RDT in Zambia. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica
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Will the real copper giants please stand up?
