15.05.2026
Results of the “IMRC-2026 ZAMBIA” International Mine Rescue Competitions.
The “IMRC-2026 ZAMBIA” International Mine Rescue Competitions officially came to an end on May 6, 2026. They were held in Zambia’s key mining cities—Mufulira and Solwezi.
The competitions, held at Mopani Copper Mines and Kansanshi Mining Plc respectively, prioritized mine safety by bringing together elite rescue teams from around the world to demonstrate their readiness, precision, and professionalism in high-risk conditions.
In the first stage of the competition, the teams were divided into two groups. Group A conducted its simulations at the Mopani Central Training Center in Mufulira, while Group B competed at the Kansanshi copper mines in Solwezi. These practical exercises were designed to test the teams’ real-world capabilities in emergency situations.
The “IMRC-2026 ZAMBIA” competition, organized jointly by Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) and Kansanshi Mine (FQM), brought together 22 elite mine rescue teams from around the world.
Participating countries included India, Poland, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, and Colombia, while Zambia was represented by the Lubambe Copper Mine, the NFCA Chambishi Mine, Konkola Copper Mine (KCM), and Mopani Copper Mine, respectively.
At the IMRC 2026 in Zambia, which brought together teams from every continent, real-world emergency response skills were put to the test under conditions that met international standards, firmly establishing Zambia’s place on the global map of best practices in mine rescue.
Competition results:
In the rope rescue competition, Australia took first place, followed by the Mufulira Mopani Copper Mines team from Zambia in second place and the Appin Pitbulls Australia team in third place.
In the “Skills and Challenges” category, Shandong Energy China took first place, the Grosvenor team from Australia took second, and Glencore Kid Operations Canada took third.
In the first aid competition, Moranbah North Australia took first place, Diamond Rough Canada took second, and Konkola Copper Mines Zambia took third.
In the “Technologies” category, Coal India took first place, followed by the team from Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia in second place, and China in third.
In the “Underground Rescue” category, the team from the Singareni Coal Mine in India took first place, Coal India came in second, and Glencore Kid Operations Canada took third.
Moramban North Australia won the fire safety competition, with Garuda Mining Indonesia taking second place and Shandong Energy China coming in third.
At the conclusion of the competition, the Indian company Coal India was crowned world champion, the Mopani Copper Mines team from Zambia took second place, and Glencore Kidd Operations Canada came in third.
In addition, the Zambian Chamber of Mining presented awards to Eric Cousins, Safety Manager for FQM’s African Group, and Chris Hale, Head of Emergency and Rescue Operations at the Kansanchi Mine, as well as other members of the Zambian Mine Rescue Service.
Although the teams’ rankings reflected their high level of achievement, the true accomplishment of the 2026 IMRC in Zambia lay in the global collaboration among the teams, who worked side by side and shared knowledge and best practices that will enhance mine safety around the world.
When the curtain fell in Livingstone, one thing remained clear: true victory would be measured not by medals, but by the lives saved.
The competition concluded with a closing ceremony and a gala dinner in Livingstone, celebrating achievements, resilience, and a shared global commitment to mine safety.
In essence, “IMRC-2026 ZAMBIA” served as a reminder that, while the mining industry is the driving force behind the sector’s economic growth, safety remains the top priority.
