FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
DECEMBER 04, 2025 

FQM TRIDENT REINFORCES COMMITMENT TO ZAMBIA’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH STRATEGIC LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS 

KALUMBILA, ZAMBIA – In a significant move towards bolstering Zambia’s industrial capacity and ensuring sustainable community development, First Quantum Minerals (FQM), through its subsidiary FQM Trident Limited, has deepened its local content strategy by handing over critical operational responsibilities to a wholly Zambian-owned enterprise. 

This strategic partnership with Mineral Link Limited, a second-generation family business, marks a pivotal shift in the mining sector’s approach to procurement. It transitions from simple service provision to complex contract mining, proving that local entities possess the capacity to drive Zambia’s long-term socio-economic development. By prioritising the sourcing of goods and services within the Zambian supply chain, FQM Trident Limited is helping to create a future where Zambian businesses and communities can thrive together. 

Redefining Local Content 

For FQM Trident Limited, local content is more than a regulatory box-ticking exercise; it is a core operational philosophy. FQM Trident Limited’s Superintendent of Commercial Contracts Thomas Lungu, explains that the mine’s definition of local content is rooted in geography and ownership. 

“Local content here at FQM Trident refers to the sourcing of goods and services within the Zambian supply chain or within the Zambian market. You can bring it in more closely to the Kalumbila catchment area, but in general, we refer to sourcing and giving preference to Zambian-owned businesses,” Mr Lungu said. 

The most recent manifestation of this commitment is the transfer of the “enterprise load and haul” operations to Mineral Link Limited. Historically, this function—moving fleet and personnel to manage mining cooperation in specific areas—was performed internally by FQM. 

“We are basically moving a service that we have previously done ourselves and giving that to a local contractor without any change in scope. This is critical because it creates an employment pipeline for our local community, particularly for skills like drivers,” Mr Lungu explained. 

A Home-Grown Success Story 

Mineral Link Limited represents the ideal trajectory of a Zambian enterprise. Established in 2001 in Chingola, a town with a rich mining heritage, the company is a family-owned business now in its second generation of leadership. 

Mineral Link Limited Director of Operations, Musamba Karabasis, describes the company as a product of its environment.  

“We were established in Chingola… the motivation to see mining trucks from a young age to now being part of mining has been our motivation throughout,” he said. 

The company’s relationship with FQM began in 2022 with a modest scope: a single bulldozer providing cleanup services at drill pads. Through consistent performance and adherence to safety and operational blueprints, Mineral Link has grown exponentially. Today, they are not merely a support service, but a primary contractor set to take over the load and haul for Enterprise, while also participating in major capital projects such as the Kansanshi S3 expansion. 

“FQM Trident has groomed us into being one of their support contractors here inside their main pit. We have grown from basically a service provider for support services to now being considered for big projects,” Mr Karabasis noted. 

Job Creation and Skills Transfer 

The economic ripple effects of this partnership are tangible, particularly regarding employment. Mineral Link Limited prides itself on a workforce that is 100 per cent Zambian, challenging the industry reliance on expatriate labour for specialised management roles. 

“It started with only maybe about 25 employees. As we speak, we are looking at 200-plus employees right here on site. With the additional contract coming up, we have an additional 150 people we are bringing on board,” said Mineral Link Limited Site Manager, Samuel Mpempulwa, highlighting the sheer scale of their growth. 

Mr Mpempulwa, who manages the site’s 42 pieces of heavy machinery—including Articulated Dump Trucks (ADTs), massive dozers, and 70-tonne excavators—emphasised that the management team is entirely indigenous.  

Crucially, the partnership facilitates skills transfer through formalised training initiatives. FQM Trident Limited has integrated its community outreach programmes with the contractor’s needs. The mine collaborates with institutions such as the Mbola Trade School, Luanshya Business Trades College (LBTC), and government training centres to create a pipeline of skilled workers. 

Mineral Link has established an apprenticeship programme specifically for the ADT side of the business.  

“We take seven students from the Mbole Institute every three months to ensure that they undergo training through our equipment right here on our site. The students who excel get employment with us full-time,” Mr Karabasis explained. 

The Multiplier Effect 

First Quantum’s strategy extends beyond direct employment. By empowering a local main contractor, they catalyse a secondary tier of local economic activity.  

Mr Lungu noted that when a local vendor gains capacity, they inevitably bring their own partners closer to the operation, creating a shared value system. 

Mr Karabasis confirmed this multiplier effect, citing their procurement strategy, and explained that rather than importing Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) machinery directly, Mineral Link chooses to partner with other Zambian firms. 

“Automotive Equipment is a wholly Zambian firm just like us… We can easily go through the same channel to order our own equipment directly, but we have decided to partner with the local [entities], hold hands together, and ensure that this project is a success through Zambian partnership 100 per cent,” Mr Karabasis said. 

This ecosystem approach ensures that the wealth generated from mining operations remains within the national economy, bolstering the financial sector and industrial base. 

Promoting Local Employment 

This strategic partnership between FQM Trident and Mineral Link has created employment opportunities for local communities. Joseph Mbomena, a resident of the Kisasa community, is one of the beneficiaries of this partnership; he is now employed by Mineral Link as an Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) operator. The move, facilitated by the local employment committee under First Quantum Minerals (FQM), has marked a turning point for his family. 

“Looking at my previous salary compared to what I earn now at Mineral Link, the difference has been transformative. It has enabled me to move my children from a government school to a private one,” Mr Mbomena explained. 

Mr Mbomena noted that the benefits of the mine’s presence extend beyond his own household, citing visible infrastructure improvements in the area.  

“We appreciate the mine for bringing development to our community,” he said, adding that the local traditional leadership has also expressed satisfaction with Trident Mine’s operations in the catchment area. 

Challenging Narratives and Future Horizons

A recurring theme in the Zambian mining sector has been the skepticism regarding the ability of local contractors to deliver at the “Tier One” standard required by global mining houses. Mineral Link’s performance at FQM Trident is dismantling this narrative. 

“Our motto is that Zambians can do it too. As much as we keep challenging the status quo and taking up challenging projects… we are changing the narrative about Zambian contractors and their capabilities,” Mr Karabasis emphasised. 

Mr Lungu echoed this sentiment, viewing the capacity building of local vendors as a strategic advantage for the region, adding that as the North-Western Province grows, and with opportunities emerging across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, capable Zambian firms will have options beyond First Quantum. 

“By capacitating local vendors, they have more options than just FQM Trident Limited or the other two mines in the area. They can also look to their fortunes in the north,” Mr Lungu said. 

Legacy and Sustainability 

Ultimately, FQM Trident Limited’s local content strategy is about sustainability that outlasts the life of the mine. By intertwining mining operations with community development, the company ensures that when mining eventually ceases, a robust, skilled, and industrialised local economy remains. 

“I don’t think anywhere in the world you can separate mining and community-related affairs. Here at FQM Trident, we feel strongly about our partnerships with local communities… ensuring that there is longevity beyond mining in the communities that we impact,” Mr Lungu said. 

As Zambia looks toward to the Mining Local Content Statutory Instrument (SI), which was authorised to be signed into law by President Hakainde Hichilema, to come into effect in January 2026, First Quantum believes collaborations with local companies like Mineral Link Limited, stands as a beacon of what is possible. The company view it as a testament to the fact that when multinational corporations genuinely invest in local capacity, the result is not just a service delivered, but a nation empowered. 

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