FQM Trident reaffirms commitment to sustainable mining

First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Trident has reiterated […]

First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Trident has reiterated its core commitment to sustainable mining, emphasizing a corporate ethos centered on leaving host communities in a measurably better position than the mine found them.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT) at the 98th Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka, FQM Trident Head of Public Relations, Mirriam Harmon, detailed how the mining company balances large-scale extraction operations with targeted community development, environmental stewardship, and local economic empowerment.

Addressing the company’s workforce structure, Harmon noted that FQM as a whole prioritizes recruitment within its immediate catchment areas while maintaining a strongly localized nationwide workforce. She said in 2025 alone, FQM employed 595 host community members across its operations in the North-Western Province.

“In 2025 alone, we employed 595 local host community employees across both sites within North-Western Province.” Recognizing the potential ecological impact of resource extraction, Harmon emphasized that FQM maintains a robust and proactive environmental management framework endorsed by industry regulators. Central to this effort is a progressive mine rehabilitation initiative led by a specialized technical team.

She said the program systematically revegetates decommissioned operational areas using indigenous plant species. “The initiative is structured to ensure that, upon mine closure, former operational footprints transition into thriving, self-sustaining forest ecosystems adhering to international environmental standards.”

 Highlighting FQM’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) footprint, Harmon disclosed that the FQM directed $13 million toward CSR initiatives across its Zambian operations in 2025, spanning agricultural input support, technical training, and major public infrastructure development. She said among many other standout socio-economic interventions implemented within the past year is the construction of the Wumi Mini Hospital, executed at a cost of K18.7 million.

“The facility addresses critical healthcare infrastructure gaps that have persisted in the region since independence. The mini hospital is equipped with a fully functional maternity ward, modern X-ray equipment, and a local mortuary. The inclusion of mortuary services resolves a longstanding logistical challenge for surrounding rural families, who previously had to transport deceased relatives over 100 kilometers to access basic cold-storage facilities.” She said.

 She further, said, FQM Trident constructed a modern secondary school from the ground up, welcoming its inaugural Form 1 class this year. The institution provides localized secondary education pathways for children of both mine employees and broader community residents.

 Harmon stressed that FQM’s development framework relies heavily on structured partnerships with key stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), traditional leadership, regulators, and government departments across key sectors. “For sustainability to be effective, the mine cannot operate in isolation,” Harmon stated.

“Our approach to mining, the FQM way, is not focused on profitability alone. It is about operating profitably while directly benefiting our host communities and contributing meaningfully to the broader Zambian economy.”

She added that FQM’s integrated approach to social investment, localized supply chains, and regulatory compliance reinforces its standing as Zambia’s largest corporate taxpayers and a key partner in sustainable national development.

Article by ZBT Analyst