Canadian mining company, Ivanhoe Mines has announced a significant expansion of its copper resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), revealing that the Makoko District’s mineralization has doubled in size over the past 18 months.
This development positions the Makoko District as the highest-grade and fifth-largest new copper discovery globally in the last decade. The updated Mineral Resource estimate now includes 27.7 million tonnes of Indicated Resources at 2.79% copper and 493.7 million tonnes of Inferred Resources at 1.70% copper, using a 1.0% copper cut-off.
According to the company’s Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete, the Makoko District, encompassing the Makoko, Makoko West, and Kitoko discoveries, has expanded its strike length to over 13 kilometers.
This growth is attributed to more than 86,000 meters of diamond drilling completed since the maiden Mineral Resource announcement in November 2023. The Western Forelands Exploration Project, adjacent to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, now covers approximately 2,393 square kilometers, making it about six times larger than the Kamoa-Kakula area.
Friedland emphasized the region’s potential, stating, “The Western Forelands is the world’s richest copper basin, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the world’s second-largest copper producer, stands unmatched as the premier destination for building new copper mines.”
He highlighted the DRC’s favorable conditions, including high-grade deposits, flat topography, and direct rail connections to the ocean, which contribute to lower capital intensities compared to other regions.
Ivanhoe Mines plans to continue its aggressive exploration in the Western Forelands, with a 2025 group-wide exploration budget of $75 million. Of this, $50 million is allocated to the Western Forelands, focusing on 102,000 meters of diamond drilling and 18,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling.
The company aims to further delineate high-grade copper resources and convert Inferred Resources to the Indicated category as drilling density increases.
The Makoko District’s expansion underscores Ivanhoe Mines’ commitment to unlocking the vast potential of the DRC’s copper resources, contributing to the global supply of this critical metal essential for the transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy.
