Indian mining services firm Laxyo Ltd has secured a $23 million underground mining contract at Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines, marking a significant expansion of its international footprint and entry into Africa’s competitive raise boring and underground mining services sector.
The contract, awarded through Laxyo’s subsidiary Laxyo Evapeta Zambia Ltd, involves underground mining services at the Mopani operations on Zambia’s Copperbelt, one of Africa’s most established copper-producing regions.
The deal represents the company’s first major overseas raise-boring agreement and is expected to strengthen its position in global mining infrastructure services.
According to industry reports, the project is part of Mopani’s broader underground mine development and modernization programme, which has seen continued investment in deep-shaft infrastructure aimed at extending mine life and improving production efficiency.
Mopani Copper Mines has in recent years undertaken extensive shaft development and rehabilitation works to access deeper ore bodies and sustain long-term copper output.
Raise boring technology, which is central to the contract, is widely used in modern underground mining to construct shafts without blasting.
The method is considered safer and more efficient than conventional drilling and blasting, allowing for the creation of ventilation shafts, ore passes and escape routes with reduced operational risk and improved precision.
The Mopani contract also highlights Zambia’s ongoing role as a key destination for mining engineering and contracting firms, particularly as operators shift toward deeper and more mechanised underground mining.
Mopani itself has undergone major transformation over the past decade, including large-scale shaft projects designed to extend the life of its Nkana and Mufulira operations by decades.
Laxyo’s entry into the Zambian mining market comes at a time when global demand for copper is rising, driven by growth in electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure and grid expansion.
Zambia, which is among Africa’s top copper producers, continues to attract international contractors seeking opportunities in mine expansion, maintenance and development projects.
The company has indicated that the contract will contribute meaningfully to its order book and supports its strategy of diversifying beyond domestic infrastructure projects into international mining services.
Industry observers note that participation in Mopani-related projects places Laxyo alongside established global mining contractors operating in Zambia and across the broader Copperbelt region.
Mopani Copper Mines, currently undergoing restructuring and investment realignment, remains a strategic asset in Zambia’s mining sector.
The mine’s underground operations continue to require advanced engineering solutions, particularly as production shifts deeper underground where complex geological and ventilation challenges increase the demand for raise boring and similar technologies.
The new contract underscores growing competition among mining services firms in Africa, where demand for specialised underground mining expertise is expanding alongside efforts to modernise aging copper mines and unlock deeper ore reserves.
As Laxyo begins implementation of the Mopani project, the development is expected to reinforce Zambia’s position as a hub for underground mining innovation while supporting the company’s ambitions for further international expansion across Africa’s mining belt.