By 
Zambia is poised to make history by becoming the first African nation to host the prestigious International Mine Rescue Competition (IMRC) in the event’s more than 100-year history.
The competition is scheduled for April 2026 and will be held at two key venues: the Mopani Central Training Centre (MCTC) in Mufulira, Copperbelt Province, and First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi Copper Mine in Solwezi, North-Western Province.
The 2026 IMRC is expected to attract participation from over 22 national mine rescue teams worldwide, bringing approximately 500 international visitors to Zambia.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Zambia Chamber of Mines announced that a delegation of Zambian mining professionals currently in Canada has advanced preparations for the event.
The team recently concluded an intensive series of workshops in Sudbury, Ontario, under the guidance of Ontario Mine Rescue’s Chief Mine Rescue Officer, Shawn Rideout.
Read more: Govt finalising mining local content law, says Minister of Mines, Kabuswe
“Most of you are already involved in emergency response systems and are familiar with operational procedures. Our focus will be on the intricacies of planning — everything required to host 26 to 28 mine rescue teams from across the globe,” said Rideout.
The practical training covered critical aspects of hosting a successful international competition, including event planning, logistics coordination, technical setup of competitive scenarios, site preparation, stakeholder engagement, sponsorship acquisition, and communication with international teams.
The delegation will proceed to Timmins, Ontario, to participate in the practical setup of scenarios for the Ontario Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions, as part of their hands-on learning experience.
Zambia Chamber of Mines Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Talent Ng’andwe, who is leading the delegation, described the training as invaluable.
“Since Canada last hosted the IMRC in 2016 and is a longstanding member of the International Mines Rescue Body (IMRB), it provides the ideal environment for us to benchmark our preparations.
“Learning from experienced professionals like Mr. Rideout has equipped us with the confidence and expertise needed to deliver a world-class IMRC in 2026,” he said.
Commenting on the anticipated influx of international visitors, Mopani Copper Mines PLC Manager – Training and Development, Dr. Christopher Chileshe, who also heads MCTC, said:
“We expect around 500 foreign nationals to visit Zambia, presenting a valuable opportunity to showcase our country to the global community. In collaboration with the government, we are preparing a range of tourism packages for visitors interested in exploring Zambia and neighbouring countries.”
Chileshe further noted that hosting the IMRC would significantly enhance Zambia’s mine rescue capabilities by exposing local brigades to international best practices, advanced technologies, and fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among global mine rescue teams.
“Beyond strengthening our emergency response preparedness, our brigadesmen will gain hands-on experience and benchmark their skills against the world’s finest,” he added.
Zambia was officially awarded the right to host the 2026 IMRC by the International Mines Rescue Body (IMRB) in September 2024, following the conclusion of the previous competition in Paipa, Colombia.
WARNING ! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments