Canadian mining company, Ivanhoe Mines has announced an impressive performance for the second quarter of 2025, with copper production at its flagship Kamoa‑Kakula site in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) rising by 11% year-on-year.
The company recorded the production of 112,009 tonnes of copper concentrate, up from 100,812 tonnes in Q2 2024. This milestone was achieved following the processing of 3.62 million tonnes of ore across its Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 concentrators.
According to Co‑Chair Robert Friedland, the company’s Executive and Marna Cloete, President and Chief Executive Officer, the solid production performance was primarily driven by a significant boost from Phase 3 operations, which milled 1.63 million tonnes of ore at a feed grade of 2.92% and a recovery rate of 85.5%, resulting in 40,608 tonnes of copper concentrate.
Phases 1 and 2 delivered 71,401 tonnes of copper from 1.99 million tonnes of ore — albeit with a lower feed grade of 4.12% and recovery of 85.4%, influenced by earlier seismic activity that temporarily impacted output.
Friedland and Cloete noted that processing across all three concentrators is now nearing or exceeding design capacities: Phase 3 continues to outperform expectations at approximately 30% above its nameplate capacity, while Phases 1 and 2 are now operating at roughly 85% of their design rate, with about 45% of feed sourced from the Kakula western deposit.
They further emphasized that preliminary dewatering efforts at Kakula’s eastern sections are on schedule, enabling access to additional high-grade ore, and that the deployment of factory-assembled dewatering pumps from China is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Behind the quarter’s strong output was also the remarkable performance of the Kipushi zinc concentrator, which milled a record 153,342 tonnes of ore, producing 41,788 tonnes of zinc concentrate.
Looking ahead, Friedland and Cloete reaffirmed Ivanhoe’s commitment to its 2025 production guidance, targeting between 520,000 and 580,000 tonnes of copper at Kamoa‑Kakula.
Key operational milestones include the ramp-up of the Phase 3 concentrator — already contributing more than design output — and advancing the Project 95 expansion, which is now 50% complete and slated for commissioning in Q1 2026.
This project is expected to enhance annual copper production by roughly 30,000 tonnes at an industry-leading capital intensity of US $6,000 per tonne.
Moreover, the company highlighted significant infrastructure developments designed to support further expansion. These include successful “Stage One” dewatering in Kakula ahead of Stage Two, and a long-term power purchase plan involving hydropower from the Inga II facility.
A forthcoming 30 MW solar photovoltaic plant, to be constructed by CrossBoundary Energy of Nairobi, is also in the pipeline, with groundwork set to begin in Q3 2025 and a planned expansion to 90 MW over time.
Ivanhoe also reiterated ongoing restoration of unsold copper concentrate stocks, currently estimated at approximately 48,000 tonnes — including around 20,000 tonnes staged at its smelter site — in preparation for the commissioning of its on-site copper smelter in July.
That smelter is expected initially to operate at 80% capacity by year-end, further reducing reliance on external toll treatment.
The robust Q2 results underscore Ivanhoe’s ability to optimize operations across all concentrator phases, while simultaneously advancing critical infrastructure and growth projects.
As Kamoa‑Kakula continues to scale towards its full capacity potential, the company appears well-positioned to deliver on its upper-end production guidance, paving the way for sustained value creation for stakeholders.
Key Q2 2025 Highlights at a Glance
| Metric | Q2 2025 | YoY Growth |
| Total copper concentrate produced | 112,009 t | +11% |
| Ore milled | 3.62 Mt | – |
| Phase 3 copper concentrate | 40,608 t | – |
| Phases 1 & 2 copper concentrate | 71,401 t | – |
| Zinc concentrate at Kipushi | 41,788 t | Record |
| Preparations for smelter start-up | Underway, on track for July |
Ivanhoe’s Q2 results confirm its operational momentum at Kamoa‑Kakula, supported by expanding capacity, infrastructure upgrades, and strategic initiatives that underscore the project’s long-term growth trajectory.
