Kansanshi Mining PLC has spent more than US$21 million on local procurement during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the Mine’s continued commitment to strengthening local supplier participation and supporting economic growth in North-Western Province.
This is according to Kansanshi mine, Senior Contracts Officer, Haggai Simbaya who shared the update during a procurement and local content presentation to the North Western Chamber of Commerce in Solwezi. Simbaya said Kansanshi Mine continue to implement deliberate procurement and supplier development strategies aimed at increasing local business participation within the mining value chain while improving transparency and accessibility for suppliers. He said during the first quarter of 2026, Kansanshi Mine processed more than 13,400 Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and approximately 22,300 Purchase Orders involving 553 local companies.
The Mine also handled nearly 10,000 procurement line items, with total procurement expenditure exceeding US$21 million. Simbaya said the figures highlighted the scale of Kansanshi Mine’s procurement operations and demonstrated the Mine’s growing investment in local enterprise development.
“Our focus is to ensure that local businesses benefit meaningfully from mining activities through increased participation, predictable procurement systems, and deliberate supplier development initiatives,” Simbaya said. “We are building a procurement framework that supports transparency, fairness, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability for local companies.”
He explained that Kansanshi Mine’s local content approach goes beyond regulatory compliance and is instead focused on creating sustainable economic opportunities through supplier growth, skills transfer, and stronger partnerships with local enterprises.
Simbaya further noted that all procurement initiatives undertaken during the quarter were aligned with Statutory Instrument No. 68 of 2022 (SI68), which provides the framework for local content implementation within Zambia’s mining sector.
As part of efforts to strengthen local business participation, Kansanshi Mine also renewed more than 10 contracts with established local suppliers, including Cable Network Solutions, Blue Lithium Communications and Chesterfields.
Simbaya said contract renewals play an important role in sustaining local businesses by protecting jobs, improving financial stability, and enabling companies to reinvest in operational capacity and workforce development. “Stable business relationships allow suppliers to plan confidently, strengthen operations, and improve service delivery standards,” he said.
The Mine also introduced several initiatives during the quarter aimed at improving access to procurement opportunities for local companies. Among the initiatives was the launch of the Expression of Interest (EOI) Portal, which enables suppliers to express interest in opportunities before formal tenders are issued. Simbaya said the portal has improved transparency and reduced information gaps by giving suppliers early visibility of upcoming procurement opportunities.
“The EOI Portal is helping create a more open and inclusive procurement process, particularly for emerging local enterprises that often require more time to prepare competitive bids,” he said. In addition, Kansanshi Mine established a Commercial Local Content Office at Kansanshi Foundation to improve engagement between suppliers and the Mine’s Commercial team.
The office operates every Tuesday and Thursday and provides guidance on tender requirements, procurement procedures, and compliance matters.
According to Simbaya, the initiative has improved communication and strengthened collaboration between the Mine and local suppliers. Kansanshi Mine also conducted a five-day Tendering and Bidding Workshop for 62 local suppliers during the quarter. The training programme focused on SI68 compliance, tender preparation, and competitive bidding strategies aimed at improving supplier readiness and bid quality.
Simbaya said the workshop was part of the Mine’s broader commitment to building local supplie local supplier capacity and increasing competitiveness among Zambian-owned businesses. Looking ahead, Kansanshi Mine says it will continue strengthening supplier engagement, enhancing transparency within procurement systems, and working closely with the North Western Chamber of Commerce to expand opportunities for local businesses.
Simbaya reaffirmed the Mine’s commitment to inclusive procurement practices and sustainable local content development. “We remain committed to building strong partnerships with local suppliers and ensuring that procurement activities contribute positively to economic growth, business development, and community empowerment he said
Article by Tyndale Muchiya
