Ivanhoe Mines has announced a milestone achievement at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with record copper production of 41,800 tonnes in October.
This production record, achieved through the complex’s Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators, is part of a steady ramp-up that has seen Kamoa-Kakula reach an annualized production rate exceeding 500,000 tonnes of copper, marking the complex as one of the top global copper producers.
October 12 marked a peak in output, with the concentrators producing 1,720 tonnes of copper in a single day, equating to an annualized production rate of 580,000 tonnes. This growth is attributed to advancements across the facility, including the completion of the Phase 3 concentrator ramp-up, which has been operating steadily since early October.
The concentrator also achieved a single-day milling record of 19,198 tonnes on October 21, exceeding its designed capacity by 30%.
Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, celebrated the achievement, emphasizing that Kamoa-Kakula’s rapid growth, delivered in three phases, positions it among the world’s premier, eco-friendly copper operations.
“Our journey at Kamoa-Kakula has been marked by consistently achieving targets ahead of schedule,” Friedland noted, highlighting the project’s upcoming expansion plans, including Phase 4 and exploration activities in the Western Foreland.
As part of its ongoing upgrades, Kamoa-Kakula has commissioned an underground-to-surface ore conveyor system at its Kamoa 1 and 2 sites, allowing direct feeding of the Phase 3 concentrator with high-grade ore.
This shift is anticipated to optimize recovery rates, expected to rise from October’s 83% average to the nameplate capacity of 86% as more run-of-mine ore is processed.
Adding to the operation’s capacity, Ivanhoe’s on-site direct-to-blister copper smelter is now over 94% complete. The smelter will process copper concentrate from all three concentrators and is scheduled for year-end completion.
Notably, the smelter will capture sulphuric acid as a by-product, expected to generate up to 700,000 tonnes annually, to be sold to local mining operations. Additionally, waste heat from smelting will generate 8 MW of electricity, supplementing the smelter’s energy needs.
Ivanhoe Mines’ expansion of Kamoa-Kakula aligns with its vision for sustainable, top-tier production and continued contributions to the global copper supply, further positioning the DRC as a leading player in the mining sector.
