Ivanhoe Mines has released its Kamoa-Kakula’s copper production guidance for 2026 and 2027, as well as an update on the Kakula Mine’s dewatering activities.
According to the Canadian mining company’s Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete, the dewatering of the Kakula Mine is progressing well, with the process approximately 70% complete on the western side of the mine and 60% complete on the eastern side.
To date, 13.4 kilometres of underground workings have been rehabilitated and made safe for resumption of operations, including 4.6 kilometres which were dewatered.
Kamoa-Kakula is on track to issue copper production guidance of 380,000–420,000 tonnes for 2026 and 500,000–540,000 tonnes for 2027, thanks to progress in underground rehabilitation and mine planning. The medium-term target remains about 550,000 tonnes.
The updated life-of-mine plan is still expected in late Q1 2026. With the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Smelter now operating (since December 1, 2025), 2026 copper sales are projected to exceed production due to destocking approximately 20,000 tonnes of concentrate inventory.
“The turnaround at Kamoa-Kakula is advancing with confidence. Even during the recovery years of 2025 and 2026, this remarkable copper complex is set to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper… an extraordinary testament to the quality of Kamoa-Kakula’s world-leading natural endowment. As we transition and enter the next phase of growth, Kamoa-Kakula and the Western Forelands will become one of the largest, if not the largest, copper complexes in the world, operating for generations to come,” said Friedland.
“We are on the cusp of a transformational change for Kamoa-Kakula and the DRC as we transition from producing copper concentrate to producing copper anodes for sale globally, at our own smelter complex, the largest in Africa,” Friedland added.
Cloete: “We extend our deepest gratitude to the entire team at Kamoa-Kakula for their unwavering dedication throughout the dewatering and rehabilitation of the Kakula Mine. They have worked under pressure with discipline, resilience, and an outstanding focus on safety. Their dedication and professionalism are the foundation of our progress.”
Improving coper grades at Kakula Mine
Copper grades at the Kakula Mine are improving as dewatering allows access to higher-grade central zones. A revised mine plan—guided by geotechnical experts—includes updated pillar designs and sequencing that have helped increase mining rates on the western side to 350,000 tonnes per month (4.2 Mtpa).
Mining has recently taken place in higher-elevation northern and southwestern zones where grades are lower, but crews are now moving toward the richer central area as water levels recede. Grades of 3.5% to 4.0% are expected from mid-December.
Output is projected to rise steadily through 2026. Selective mining on the eastern side will begin in Q1 2026, lifting monthly production to about 450,000 tonnes (5.5 Mtpa) by the end of that quarter. A new eastern mining area is also expected to start producing ore by mid-2026.
Kakula is forecast to mine around 6 Mt of ore in 2026, increasing to 7–8 Mt in 2027, with grades ranging from 3.5% to 4.5%. About 70% of the 2026 ore will come from the western side before shifting eastward in 2027. All mined ore will be processed through the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators.