Sedna Africa Enables Autonomous Drilling At First Quantum’s Sentinel Mine

Sedna Africa has successfully delivered and commissioned the digital network infrastructure enabling autonomous drilling at First Quantum Minerals’ Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila, marking a major milestone in the advancement of smart mining in Zambia.

The project forms part of First Quantum’s broader strategy to modernise operations, improve safety and increase productivity as the company works toward its long-term copper production targets. Sedna Africa was responsible for supplying, installing and commissioning the Rajant Corporation wireless network, which provides the resilient, high-performance connectivity required to support autonomous drilling operations.

The network underpins the drill automation system deployed at Sentinel, enabling mobility, low latency communication, high-capacity data transfer and remote operation in a demanding and dynamic open-pit mining environment. The solution was implemented in collaboration with First Quantum subsidiary Trident Mining and global drill automation specialist Flanders Inc.

Following successful trials on three drill rigs, the system has demonstrated measurable improvements in drilling accuracy, efficiency and operational safety. Advanced GPS and laser-guided positioning have improved drill precision and blast outcomes, while automation has increased the number of holes drilled by more than 30%. Operators can now oversee drilling activities remotely, reducing exposure to high-risk environments.

Sedna Africa Managing Director Anton Fester said the project reflects the importance of robust digital foundations in enabling advanced mining technologies. “From a technology perspective, autonomous drilling is only possible when the underlying network is reliable, resilient and built for harsh operating conditions.”

“As mining operations move toward greater autonomy and digitalization, resilient connectivity becomes the foundation for everything that follows. At Sentinel Mine, Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® network delivers continuous, mobile, and self-healing connectivity that autonomous drilling operations rely on to perform safely and consistently. By maintaining real-time communications across moving equipment and dynamic mine environments, we enabled our customer to operate with greater precision, uptime, and confidence. Delivered in partnership with Sedna Africa, this project shows how the right wireless infrastructure directly translates into safer operations and measurable productivity gains,” explains Rinus Pretorius, Africa Sales Director, Rajant Corporation.

The project reinforces Sedna Africa’s role as a key enabler of digital transformation in the mining sector, delivering proven connectivity solutions that support safer, more efficient and more sustainable mining operations across the continent.