Gruvaktiebolaget Viscaria has selected Sandvik to supply the underground production fleet and lifecycle services for the reopening of the Viscaria copper mine in Kiruna, Sweden.
The reopening of Viscaria marks a major milestone for one of northern Europe’s most significant copper development projects. Gruvaktiebolaget Viscaria acquired the asset in 2019, but the mine was in operation from 1982 to 1997 before being shut down due to a steep decline in global copper prices.
After three decades of dormancy, copper production is slated to restart in 2028 with full production expected in 2029. At full annual output capacity of 26,000 t, Viscaria will become Sweden’s second-largest copper producer.
Sandvik will supply four Sandvik DL432i longhole drills (one pictured) and four Toro® LH621i loaders, all of which will be operated from the same AutoMine® Multi-Lite platform with full fleet integration. The agreement also covers rock tools and a full service contract. Sandvik will establish a dedicated service organisation at Viscaria to support underground fleet operation.
The order was booked in the September quarter of 2026. Deliveries are expected to begin in January 2027 and continue through August 2027.
“We are very pleased to deepen our cooperation with Sandvik,” Jörgen Olsson, CEO of Gruvaktiebolaget Viscaria, said. “The agreement gives us access to modern equipment, digital solutions and a dedicated service organisation that will support the development of the Viscaria mine before the start of production.”
Patrick Murphy, President of Mining at Sandvik, said: “Successful mining projects are built on strong partnerships long before the first tonne of ore is produced, and we’ve been working alongside the Viscaria team since 2020. Viscaria represents exactly the kind of forward-looking project where early collaboration creates long-term value. We look forward to delivering our leading equipment, rock tools and automation solutions, backed by lifecycle services, to help Viscaria unlock the untapped potential of this historic mine.”
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