In mid-2026, copper major First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM’s) proprietary trolley-assist solution – Quantum Electra-Haul – secured both a patent and trademark from the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to advance trolley-assist technology in mining.

Quantum Electra-Haul exemplifies FQM’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, further demonstrated by the trialling of the world’s first ultra-large full-battery dump truck combined with trolley assist technology, at FQM’s Kansanshi copper and gold mine, in Zambia.

The Kansanshi mine, near Solwezi, in North-Western province, has been FQM’s flagship operation since 2005 and is one of the country’s biggest mines.

The trial of the battery-powered dump truck, in partnership with equipment supplier Hitachi Construction Machinery, started in June 2024 and is ongoing.

The trial aims to verify the practical performance of all rock haulage operations required of a battery-powered dump truck under actual operating conditions, as well as the verification of dynamic battery charging and discharging cycles made possible by the trolley-assist system in place at the mine.

In April 2026, FQM and Hitachi hosted the Battery Truck & Electrification Showcase – a technical demonstration of the full battery dump truck for mining customers, at the Kansanshi mine.

“The world needs copper to be mined in a responsible manner. Mining is no longer just an extractive industry, and we need to contribute meaningfully to the environment and to the communities around us,” says FQM mine operations and technology director Gordon White.

He says the patented trolley-assist solution is a key element of this evolution, adding that FQM has “mastered this technology” by working with long-term partners to provide stable platforms with multiple trucks on the overhead line at the same time.

Patents Pending

Further patents for additional aspects of the Quantum Electra-Haul invention are pending with the IPO.

FQM is demonstrably moving towards the true decarbonisation of its mining fleet through the widespread adoption of Quantum Electra-Haul.

With over 14 years of experience in designing, refining and operating trolley-assist systems across its sites, FQM has established itself as the industry leader in this transformative technology.

With almost half a million kilometres travelling under trolley assistance across the group’s operations, 2025 was a record year for the company’s adoption of trolley-assist systems.

Since 2011, FQM has collaborated closely with original-equipment manufacturers such as Liebherr, Hitachi and Komatsu, to develop truck and energy network infrastructure essential for the deployment of this technology.

FQM’s operations feature multiple trolley lines across different pit areas, with trucks equipped with pantographs that connect to overhead powerlines on the ramps out of the pit.

When engaged, the trolley-assist system activates the electric wheel motors, switching off the truck’s diesel engine and contributing to diesel savings of up to 90% on up-ramps when the trucks are fully laden and consuming the most energy.

Trolley-assist technology also offers significant timesavings of about two minutes for each trolley-assist stretch, thereby reducing truck fleet requirements and improving safety by reducing equipment interactions.

According to White, the global demand for copper must be met through responsible mining practices that actively support local communities and the environment.

By collaborating with long-term partners, he explains, FQM has successfully developed stable platforms capable of running multiple trucks simultaneously, while also designing vital hardware such as transformers and power distribution infrastructure.

The implementation of trolley-assist technology at FQM’s Zambian mines has led to notable greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reductions.

By replacing diesel consumption with renewable energy, battery and trolley assist systems saved an estimated 45 000 t of GHG emissions in 2025, which combined with FQM’s other pit electrification initiatives yielded savings of more than 130 000 t CO₂ equivalent at its Zambian operations.