Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company leading multiple high-impact projects in Southern Africa has announced a significant milestone at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, achieving a record monthly production of 45,019 tonnes of copper in November 2024.
The combined output from its three concentrators—Phase 1, Phase 2, and the recently ramped-up Phase 3—represents an annualized production rate of approximately 550,000 tonnes of copper.
The concentrators processed 1.2 million tonnes of ore at an average feed grade of 4.58% copper. Remarkably, the Phase 3 concentrator reached an average recovery rate of 85.3% for the month, with a peak of 90% achieved on November 26.
Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, hailed the achievement: “This is another remarkable milestone for Kamoa-Kakula as we approach a production capacity of 600,000 tonnes per annum. The complex is rapidly becoming a world leader in copper production, and the growth story is only just beginning.”
Global Copper Leader in the Making
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is poised to overtake Peru as the world’s second-largest producer of mined copper. Analysis by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates the DRC’s copper output for 2024 will reach 2.9 million tonnes, surpassing Peru’s forecast of 2.8 million tonnes. This shift underscores the DRC’s increasing importance in the global copper industry.
According to an analysis by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence of London, England, total copper production in Peru during the 9 months to September 30, 2024, was down yearon-year by 0.6% at 1.99 million tonnes.
In a publication made on November 25, 2024, Benchmark stated that “the setback means that it will become more challenging for Peru’s copper miners to reach the government’s 2024 production target of 2.8 million tonnes (already revised down in September from 3.0 million tonnes).”
Analysis by Benchmark estimated that in 2023, Peru produced 2.76 million tonnes of copper, whereas the DRC produced 2.70 million tonnes.
Benchmark stated, “Peru will almost certainly be overtaken by the DRC to the number two spot in the global ranking of top mined copper producers in 2024. We expect the DRC to produce 2.9 million tonnes of mined copper this year.”
Infrastructure Developments
Significant progress in infrastructure is facilitating Kamoa-Kakula’s growth. The Lobito Atlantic Railway, a critical export route for copper, received its first batch of 275 new container wagons in November. Manufactured by Galison Manufacturing in South Africa, these wagons are designed to enhance transport efficiency, each capable of carrying one 40-foot container or two 20-foot containers. Deliveries are expected to continue weekly until 2026.
President Joe Biden’s planned visit to the Lobito port on December 3, 2024, further highlights the strategic importance of this infrastructure. The visit coincides with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s approval of a $553 million loan to support upgrades to the railway, managed by the Trafigura-led consortium Lobito Atlantic Railway SA.
Sustainability Efforts
Kamoa-Kakula is also advancing its sustainability initiatives. The direct-to-blister copper smelter, set for completion by year-end, will capture off-gases containing sulfuric acid and waste heat. The recycled sulfuric acid will be sold to mining operations in the DRC Copperbelt, contributing to a circular economy.