Caterpillar’s ultraclass 995 wheel loader delivered by Barloworld to Barrick’s Luwana copper mine
Caterpillar dealer Barloworld Zambia has announced the successful delivery of a Cat 995 wheel loader – the largest wheel loader in the Caterpillar product line – to Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine. It stated: “This milestone reflects our continued trust and partnership with one of Zambia’s leading mining operations, and Caterpillar’s proven reliability and performance, with equipment engineered to handle the most demanding applications.”
The 995 offers a bucket capacity of up to 43.6 m3 with standard lift payload of 54 t; and utilises a Cat® 3516E engine providing gross power of 1,394 kW. It demonstrates 21% higher efficiency and 24% more production than the 994K in equal operating mode thanks to a higher rated payload and 6% increase in hydraulic force. In Enhanced Eco Mode, the 995 demonstrates up to a 30% increase in efficiency and an 11% reduction in hourly fuel consumption versus the 994K in throttle lock mode, which translates to 23% less CO2 per unit of material moved. It also offers a more comfortable operator environment and is infused with new technology features that allow additional gains in efficiency.
Lumwana is pressing ahead with the Super Pit Expansion Project – this will see the mine up production from the current 140,000 t/y to 240,000 t/y of copper from 2028, with a life of mine of over 30 years. The expansion involves first doubling throughput by twinning the existing process circuit and then by significantly increasing mining volumes. A major part of this is new ultra class fleet investment to drive higher production; increase efficiencies and lower unit costs.
The process expansion is supported by a ramp up of total mining volumes, which are planned to increase incrementally year-on-year, to approximately 240 Mt in 2028 and then to an average rate of 290 Mt per annum from 2030 onwards. Commissioning of the new process plant is planned to start in the second half of 2027. Once the new process circuit is commissioned, the existing circuit will undergo a series of planned shutdowns, allowing Barrick to install upgrades, while ensuring uninterrupted copper delivery throughout the expansion.
During Q2 2026, the second lift of the mill walls and roller slab was completed, primary crusher civil works advanced, and civil construction commenced on the overland conveyor transfer towers. Most major long-lead equipment is now on site, including the mill shells and trunnions, primary crusher, and tailings thickener.
A fleet of new Komatsu 930E-5 trucks along with Hitachi EH5000 trucks now make up the fleet teamed with Komatsu PC8000 and PC7000 shovels, with Barrick stating that it has optimised the fleet for the ramp-up based on past experience. A phased transition to cable electric-powered shovels is set to be complete in 2031; while in-pit crushing and conveying has been built into the mine design to reduce truck requirements.
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