Ivanhoe Mines announces today that following the temporary suspension of underground operations at the Kakula Mine announced on May 20, 2025, senior management continues to work alongside world-leading engineering experts to safely and conservatively restart mining operations.
Kamoa Copper’s engineering teams are currently updating the short-, medium-, and long-term plans to resume operations on both the western and eastern sides of the Kakula Mine. Subject to dewatering progress, underground mining is expected to restart later this month on the western side of the mine, which remains dry and supported by over 1,000 litres per second of operational pumping capacity.
Operations on the eastern side of the Kakula Mine are expected to restart once
dewatering is complete. Kamoa Copper has implemented a two-stage plan to
dewater the entire Kakula Mine:
Stage One involves the installation of temporary underground pumping infrastructure to stabilize and maintain current water levels. Stage One was completed today, with total underground pumping capacity increasing to approximately 4,400 litres per second, sufficient to manage water inflows.
Stage Two involves the installation of high-capacity, surface-mounted pumps and
new permanent infrastructure to fully dewater the entire Kakula Mine. Stage Two is
already underway. Kamoa Copper has ordered four high-capacity pumps, each
rated at 650 litres per second. Additional pumps will also be ordered as part of the
long term pumping infrastructure plan. These pumps will be deployed in pairs and
installed in existing ventilation shafts that access the water catchment areas of the
Kakula Mine. Delivery and installation of the surface pumps is expected within 90
days.
Meanwhile, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators continue to operate at approximately
50% of their combined capacity, processing ore from surface stockpiles. Ore from
the western side of the Kakula Mine will be fed into the concentrators once
underground operations restart.
Since mining operations began at Kakula in 2021, crews have completed over 18 months’ worth of underground development ahead of the mine plan. This extensive advance development provides significant operational flexibility, allowing access to multiple production areas as they are deemed safe for re-entry.
Mining operations at the Kamoa underground mine and ore processing at the
adjacent Phase 3 concentrator remain unaffected and continue as normal.
Ivanhoe Mines to provide next week plans for reopening the western side and the restart of the eastern side of the Kakula Mine Senior management from Ivanhoe Mines and the Kamoa Copper joint venture, together with world-class geotechnical specialists, are in the process of concluding their thorough, conservative geotechnical assessment of the Kakula
Mine. The results of the assessment, as well as the restart plans for the western
and eastern sides of the Kakula Mine are expected next week.