KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO & NANCHANG, CHINA – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun are pleased to announce that Kamoa Copper has awarded China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd. (Nerin) of Jiangxi, China, with the basic engineering contract for the planned, direct-to-blister flash smelter at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex that will incorporate leading-edge technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland, and have a nameplate capacity of 500,000 tonnes a year of approximately 99%-pure blister copper.
The contract was signed earlier today by Mark Farren, CEO of Kamoa Copper, and Wu Runhua, General Manager of Nerin, at a virtual ceremony held at the Kamoa-Kakula Mine and Nanchang City.Jinghe Chen, Chairman of Zijin Mining; Zhang Xiaobo, Chairman of Nerin; along with Mr. Friedland and Mr. Sun, joined the signing ceremony to offer their congratulations and support for this important project milestone.
The planned Kamoa-Kakula smelter is to be built adjacent to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants, and is designed to use technology supplied by Metso Outotec and to meet the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) emissions standards. The smelter has been sized to process the majority of the copper concentrate forecast to be produced by Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 concentrators. With a nameplate capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper, it is projected to be one of the largest, single-line blister-copper flash smelters in the world, and the largest in Africa.
Kamoa Copper’s executive team members at the virtual signing ceremony. (L-R, seated): Ben Munanga, Chairman; Mark Farren, CEO; and Rochelle De Villiers, Co-CFO. (L-R standing) Zhilin Li, Deputy General Manager; Annebel Oosthuizen, Executive, Finance; Xuelin Cai (Minty), Co-CFO; and Yong Chen, COO.
Nerin is an international engineering company with more than 60 years of experience in smelter engineering and construction projects globally. Nerin actively promotes the advancement of smelting technology through its own research and development, and establishing various partnerships with global industry peers, including Metso Outotec.
Since its inception in 1957, Nerin has undertaken more than 4,000 engineering and construction projects in 60 countries, including numerous large-scale, flash smelting projects, which comprise approximately 47% of the world’s current flash-smelting capacity. Notable projects include the upgrading of Rio Tinto’s Kennecott smelter inSalt Lake City, Utah, United States, and the upgrading and expansion of Glencore’s PASAR smelter and refinery in Isabel, Leyte Philippines. Nerin’s exceptional capabilities in flash-smelting technology, combined with its significant experience in the DRC (including the Lualaba Copper Smelter near Kolwezi that is treating approximately one-third of Kamoa-Kakula’s current concentrate output, and Tenke Fungurume’s copper hydrometallurgical plant) will help ensure a smooth execution of the planned smelter at Kamoa-Kakula.
The smelter is expected to be built concurrently with the project’s Phase 3 mine and concentrator expansion, and the upgrading of turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex. The additional 162 megawatts of renewable electricity from the Inga II upgrading project will be needed to power the Phase 3 expansion and on-site smelter.
The next stages in the smelter project development will be the completion of basic engineering, which is expected to take approximately seven months, and the ordering of the long-lead equipment, followed by earthworks which are expected to commence in Q2 2022. The awarding of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract is expected to occur shortly after the commencement of the earthworks.
The overall execution timeline will be dictated by the basic engineering, but is expected to be approximately three years. The expected capital cost is in the region of US$700 million (100%-basis) for the enlarged smelter, to be financed with cash flows from Kamoa-Kakula.
An onsite smelting facility has compelling cost and environmental benefits, including a reduction in the volume of copper concentrate shipped from the mine by approximately one half or more, and the associated logistics costs, export taxes and concentrate treatment charges. The smelter also will produce sulphuric acid as a by-product, creating a new revenue stream for Kamoa Copper.
There is a strong demand and market for sulphuric acid in the DRC to recover copper from oxide ores. Copper mines in the DRC currently import significant volumes of sulphur used in sulphur-burning acid plants to produce sulphuric acid for the treatment of oxide copper ores. The DRC also imports sulphuric acid, primarily from Zambia.
Kamoa-Kakula currently is producing an extremely high-grade, clean copper concentrate containing approximately 55% copper and extremely low levels of arsenic by world standards – approximately 0.01%. Approximately 35% of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrate is sent to the local Lualaba smelter for processing into blister copper ingots – containing approximately 99% copper – while the remainder is transported via trucks and ships to international smelters for treatment.
Mark Farren commented: “Today’s signing of the smelter basic engineering contract with Nerin highlights our commitment to the people of the DRC toderive more economic benefits from Kamoa-Kakula by maximizing in-country beneficiation. Achieving the transformative potential of Kamoa-Kakula’s unrivaled copper resources requires creative thinking that supports the DRC’s priorities of economic growth and diversification through value-addition, processing and beneficiation.
“Nerin is a highly-respected engineering firm with the people and in-country expertise to deliver a first-rate, on-site smelter that will be among the largest of its kind in the world. They successfully built the local Lualaba Copper Smelter, to which we are sending about a third of our current concentrate output.
“After a great deal of due diligence, the partners at Kamoa Copper collectively agree that the state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly technology offered by the Metso Outotec direct-to-blister smelter best suits the unique low-iron, low-sulphur and ultra-high-grade concentrate produced at Kamoa-Kakula, and aligns seamlessly with our goal of producing the world’s ‘greenest copper’.
“The Kamoa-Kakula smelter will be powered by clean, renewable hydropower and will incorporate leading-edge sulphur capture. Shipping 99%-pure blister copper ingots produced from an on-site smelter, instead of shipping copper concentrate, will result in a significant reduction in Kamoa-Kakula’s concentrate transportation costs and Scope 3 emissions.”
Wu Runhua, General Manager of Nerin (seated, centre) and Xiaobo Zhang, Chairman of Nerin (standing behind Wu Runhua), and other members of China Nerin Engineering join members of Ivanhoe Mines’ Chinese representative office at the signing ceremony in Nanchang City, China, with the Kamoa Copper team on the screen in the background.
(L-R) Kexin Liu (Cathy), Ivanhoe; Tao Feng, Ivanhoe; Chao Zhou (Peter), Ivanhoe; Wu Runhua, Nerin; Xiaobo Zhang, Nerin; Feng He, Nerin; Hu Hu, Nerin; and Xiaowei Yang, Nerin.
A 3D illustration of the planned direct-to-blister flash smelter at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine that will have a nameplate capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper.
Aerial view of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. The planned smelter is to be built within the area outlined in red, adjacent to the Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants (in yellow circle). The backfill plant is circled in blue.
Benefits of the Metso Outotec direct-to-blister smelting technology
Approximately one-half of the world’s primary copper currently is produced using flash, direct-to-blister smelting technology. Metso Outotec recently signed a major engineering and technology contract for the delivery of a landmark copper smelter complex to be built in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia. The project owner is PT Freeport Indonesia and has a value of EUR 360 million (US$424 million).
The Outotec technology produces high-quality blister copper in a single flash furnace without the need for separate converting stages or ladle transportation. The process and equipment have undergone continuous development over the last 70 years, which has led to one of the safest, most environmentally-friendly, and most reliable smelting processes for treating high-grade copper concentrates.
Summary of direct-to-blister smelting key features:
- Often the most profitable process option for concentrates containing more than 30% copper.
- Results in high copper recovery.
- Requires no converting process.
- Low capital and maintenance costs.
- Integrated controls with continuous process.
- High sulphur recovery due to single, continuous, stable gas stream, leading to minimum emissions to the environment.
- Low capital and operational costs for sulphuric acid plant.
A Metso Outotec direct-to-blister flash smelter furnace in operation.
Kakula is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) at an estimated, average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper over the first five years of operations, and 5.9% copper over the initial 10 years of operations. Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year, while the Phase 2 expansion is forecast to increase production to approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper annually. Kamoa Copper is on track to complete the Phase 2 expansion in Q2 2022.
Based on independent benchmarking, the project’s phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (20%). A 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada, confirmed that the project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced.
Qualified Persons
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding development scenarios at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is Kamoa Copper’s Head of Projects. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.
Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which is available on the company’s website and under the company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com:
- Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated October 13, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., DRA Global, Epoch Resources, Golder Associates Africa, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd., Outotec Oyj, Paterson and Cooke, Stantec Consulting International LLC, SRK Consulting Inc., and Wood plc.
The technical report includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Kamoa-Kakula Project cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and at the Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper concentrates in May 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula is being powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and is projected to be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its Western Foreland exploration licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.
Information contacts
Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 / Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034
Kamoa Copper: Ben Munanga +243.972.995.117
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict” and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.
Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) all statements regarding the planned Kamoa-Kakula smelter; (ii) statements regarding the completion of basic engineering is expected to take approximately seven months; (iii) statements regarding the ordering of the long-lead equipment, followed by earthworks which are expected to commence in Q2 2022; (iv) statements regarding the awarding of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract is expected to occur shortly after the commencement of the earthworks; (v) statements regarding the overall execution timeline is expected to be approximately three years; (vi) statements regarding the expected capital cost is in the region of US$700 million (100%-basis) for the enlarged smelter, to be jointly financed with Ivanhoe’s equal partner Zijin Mining, with cash flows from Kamoa-Kakula; (vii) statements regarding Kakula is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 Mtpa at an estimated, average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper over the first five years of operations and 5.9% copper over the initial 10 years of operations; (viii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year, and Phases 1 and 2 combined are forecast to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper per year; (ix) statements regarding based on independent benchmarking, the project’s phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s second largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes; (x) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced; (xi) statements regarding Kamoa Copper is on track to complete the Phase 2 expansion in Q2 2022; and (xii) statements regarding an upgraded turbine 5 at Inga II is expected to produce 162 megawatts of renewable hydropower, providing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and associated smelter with abundant sustainable electricity for future expansions.
As well, all of the results of the Kakula definitive feasibility study, the Kakula-Kansoko pre-feasibility study and the Kamoa-Kakula preliminary economic assessment, constitute forward-looking statements or information, and include future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs and the size and timing of phased development of the projects. Furthermore, with respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the development of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, the company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of copper; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) accidents or acts of sabotage or terrorism; (x) currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the compliance by joint venture partners with terms of agreements; (xiii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies; (xv) the ability to raise sufficient capital to develop such projects; (xvi) changes in project scope or design; (xvii) political factors; and (xviii) unforeseen delays or stoppages in shipping and transportation of goods and equipment.
Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under “Risk Factors”, and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
The company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below in the “Risk Factors” section in the company’s 2021 Q3 MD&A and its current annual information form.
刚果民主共和国科卢韦齐及中国南昌 — 艾芬豪矿业 (TSX: IVN; OTCQX:IVPAF) 联席董事长罗伯特·弗里兰德 (Robert Friedland) 与孙玉峰 (Miles Sun) 欣然宣布，卡莫阿铜业正式委托中国瑞林工程技术有限公司 (以下简称“中国瑞林”) 为卡莫阿-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) 铜矿直接粗铜闪速熔炼厂提供基础工程设计服务，该冶炼厂将融合位于芬兰艾斯波的美卓奥图泰 (Metso Outotec) 公司提供的尖端技术，计划每年生产50万吨含铜99%的粗铜。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (Mark Farren) 与中国瑞林总经理吴润华今日分别于卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山和南昌市网上签署合同。紫金矿业董事长陈景河、中国瑞林董事长章晓波、弗里兰德先生及孙玉峰先生出席此次网上签约仪式，以表示对此项目的大力支持并对这一重要里程碑致以热烈祝贺。
规划中的卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂将建设在I期和II期选厂附近，利用美卓奥图泰提供的技术，并将满足国际金融公司 (IFC) 制定的排放标准建造。冶炼厂的规模设计适合处理卡莫阿-卡库拉I期、II期和III期选厂生产的大部分铜精矿，设计产能达每年50万吨粗铜，预计将会成为全球规模最大的单线铜冶炼厂之一以及非洲最大型的铜冶炼厂。
卡莫阿现场签约及见证人(从左至右)：第一排：卡莫阿铜业董事长本·穆南加(Ben Munanga), 首席执行官马克・法伦(Mark Farren)，联席首席财务官罗谢尔·德维利耶(Rochelle De Villiers)第二排：卡莫阿铜业副总经理李志林，财务主管安妮贝尔·奥斯图伊森(Annebel Oosthuizen)，联席首席财务官蔡雪琳(Minty Cai)，首席运营官陈勇。
中国瑞林是一家国际工程公司，在全球冶炼工程和建设项目方面拥有超过 60 年的经验，通过自主研发，积极推动冶炼技术的发展，并且与全球同业公司如美卓奥图泰 (Metso Outotec) 建立多样化的合作伙伴关系。
自 1957 年成立以来，中国瑞林在60多个国家承接了4,000多个工程和建设项目，其中包括多个大型的闪速熔炼 (flash smelting) 项目，占目前全球的闪速熔炼产能约47%。中国瑞林曾参与多个国际知名的项目，包括力拓集团位于美国犹他州的肯尼科特冶炼厂改造项目以及嘉能可集团菲律宾联合熔炼与精炼厂 (PASAR) 的改造扩建项目。中国瑞林的闪速熔炼技术卓越，加上其在刚果(金)的丰富经验 (包括卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂和Tenke Fungurume 的铜湿法冶炼厂)，将有助于确保卡莫阿-卡库拉规划中的冶炼厂顺利推行。
预计冶炼厂的建设将与项目III期扩建计划以及英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造工程同步进行。英加二期升级完成后，将提供额外162 兆瓦的可再生电力，保障III期扩建和冶炼厂建设及运营。
冶炼厂项目开发的下一步工作，是完成基础工程设计和长周期设备采购。基础工程设计大约耗时七个月，土方工程预计于2022年第二季度开始。工程、采购和施工管理合同(EPCM) 预计将在土方工程开始后不久完成签署。
项目总体的执行时间将视基础工程设计结果而定，但预计可在约三年内完成。预计提升产能后的冶炼厂资本成本为7亿美元 (以项目100%为基础)，开发资金将全部来自卡莫阿-卡库拉产生的现金流。。
该现场冶炼设施同时将具备有着可观的经济和环保效益，从矿山运输铜精矿的总量可减少一半或以上，从而降低物流成本、出口税和精矿粗炼费，并可生产副产品硫酸，为卡莫阿铜业创造新的收入来源。
刚果 (金) 对于硫酸的需求旺盛，刚果 (金) 的铜矿山大量进口硫磺，硫酸厂用其生产硫酸，以用于处理氧化铜矿的湿法冶炼。此外，刚果 (金) 仍从赞比亚进口硫酸。
目前，卡莫阿-卡库拉生产品位极高的清洁铜精矿 (品位约55%)，按照世界标准，精矿的砷含量极低，约为0.01%。卡莫阿-卡库拉I期生产的精矿约35% 被送往当地的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂加工生产含铜99%的粗铜锭，其余则经过陆路及海运发往国际冶炼厂进行粗炼。
马克·法伦表示﹕“今天与中国瑞林签订的冶炼厂基本设计服务合同，体现了我们对于刚果(金)人民的承诺，最大限度地在刚果(金)国内进行选冶作业，助力卡莫阿-卡库拉为当地人民带去更多的经济利益。想要充分发挥卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目这一超优质矿产资源的巨大潜力，需要创造性的思维，与刚果(金)人民保持携手奋进，通过选冶加工增值以实现经济增长及多样化。”
“中国瑞林是一家享负盛名的工程公司，拥有国际化人才和丰富的专业知识，有能力建设一流的冶炼厂，此冶炼厂将成为全球规模最大的同类型冶炼厂之一。中国瑞林过去成功在当地建设了卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂。目前，卡莫阿-卡库拉约三分之一的精矿运送到该冶炼厂进行加工生产。”
“经过详细的尽职调查，卡莫阿铜业及其合作伙伴一致同意，美卓奥图泰直接粗铜冶炼厂提供的先进环保技术，最适合加工卡莫阿-卡库拉生产的极低铁、低硫的超高品位精矿，与我们生产世界“最环保铜金属”的目标完美契合。”
卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂将使用清洁的可再生水电，并融入先进的硫捕集技术开展生产。相比铜精矿，运输现场冶炼生产的含铜99%的粗铜锭，将会显著降低卡莫阿-卡库拉的精矿运输成本以及温室气体排放量(范围三)。”
现场签约人及见证人(从左至右)：艾芬豪矿业：投资部高级经理刘可欣，技术服务部副总裁冯涛，执行副总裁兼中国区业务负责人周超。中国瑞林：总经理吴润华，董事长章晓波，卡莫阿项目经理、冶金事业部经理何峰，副总经理胡虎，项目与安全质量总监杨小伟。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿规划中的直接粗铜闪速熔炼厂的三维示意图，设计产能达每年 50万吨粗铜。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿区鸟瞰图。计划中的冶炼厂将建在图中红框区域内，与I期和II期选厂相邻 (黄色圈内)。回填工厂用蓝色圈出。
美卓奥图泰直接粗铜冶炼技术的优势
目前，全球约一半的原生铜都是运用直接粗铜闪速熔炼技术生产的。奥图泰的技术使用单个闪速熔炼炉生产优质粗铜，无需经过独立的转化阶段或转炉运输，其工艺和设备在过去70多年以来持续更新，现已发展成为最安全、环保和可靠的冶炼工艺之一，适合精炼高品位的铜精矿。
直接粗铜冶炼的主要特点：
- 对于含铜金属30%以上的精矿，通常是获利最高的工艺方案；
- 铜回收率高；
- 无需转化工艺；
- 投资和维护成本低；
- 集成控制且具有工艺连续性；
- 采用持续稳定的单一气流，提高硫的回收率，排放量降至最低水平；
- 硫酸厂的资本和运营成本低。
正在运行中的美卓奥图泰的直接粗铜闪速熔炼厂。
预计卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球品位最高的大型铜矿山，初期年开采矿石380万吨，预计投产后前5年的平均入选品位超过6.0%，投产后前10年超过5.9%。I期投产后预计每年将生产约20万吨铜，II 期扩建投产后每年将累计生产高达40万吨铜。卡莫阿铜业将按计划于2022年第二季度完成II期扩建。
根据独立研究机构排名，一旦项目扩大至1,900万吨/年的矿石处理产能，卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球第二大铜矿山，最高年产80多万吨铜。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目是艾芬豪矿业 (占股39.6%)、紫金矿业集团 (占股39.6%)、晶河全球 (占股0.8%) 及刚果民主共和国政府 (占股20%) 的合资项目。 2020年，加拿大Hatch有限公司对卡莫阿-卡库拉的温室气体强度指标进行了独立审核，确认项目将会成为全球单位铜温室气体排放最低的矿山之一。
合资格人
本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目开发方案的科学或技术性披露已经由史蒂夫·阿莫斯 (Steve Amos) 审查和批准，他凭借其教育、经验和专业协会会籍被认为是NI 43-101 标准下的合资格人。由于阿莫斯先生是卡莫阿项目的负责人，因此他并不符合NI 43-101 对独立人士的界定。阿莫斯先生已核实本新闻稿所披露的技术数据。
艾芬豪已经为卡莫阿-卡库拉项目编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的最新独立技术报告，这些报告可在SEDAR 网站上的艾芬豪页面获得，网址为 www.sedar.com﹕
- 2020年10月13日发布的2020年卡莫阿-卡库拉综合开发方案，由OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、DRA Global、Epoch Resources、Golder Associates Africa、KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd.、Outotec Oyj、Paterson and Cooke、Stantec Consulting International LLC、SRK Consulting Inc.以及Wood plc编制。
技术报告包括本新闻稿中引用的卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的矿产资源估算的假设、参数和方法等信息，以及本新闻稿中关于科学和技术性披露的数据验证、勘查程序和其他事项的信息。
关于艾芬豪矿业
艾芬豪矿业是一家加拿大的矿业公司，正在推进旗下位于南部非洲的三大合资项目：位于刚果民主共和国的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿和位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 钯-铑-铂-镍-铜-金矿的大型机械化地下矿山开发工程；以及同样位于刚果民主共和国、久富盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 锌-铜-锗-银矿的大型重建和改善工程。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2021年5月实现铜精矿生产，未来将分阶段进行扩建，预计将会成为全球最大规模的铜生产商之一。卡莫阿-卡库拉和基普什将使用清洁、可再生的水电，并将成为世界上每单位金属温室气体排放量最低的矿山之一。艾芬豪矿业已作出承诺，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿将致力实现净零运营温室气体排放 (范围一和二)。同时，艾芬豪正在刚果民主共和国境内、毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的西部前沿 (Western Foreland) 探矿权内寻找新的铜矿资源。
联系方式
投资者﹕比尔·特伦曼 (Bill Trenaman)，电话﹕+1.604.331.9834 / 媒体﹕马修·基维尔 (Matthew Keevil)，电话﹕ +1.604.558.1034
前瞻性陈述
本新闻稿载有的某些陈述可能构成适用证券法所订议的"前瞻性陈述"或"前瞻性信息"。这些陈述及信息涉及已知和未知的风险、不明朗因素和其它因素，可能导致本公司的实际业绩、表现或成就、项目或行业业绩与前瞻性陈述或信息所表达或暗示的任何未来业绩、表现或成就产生重大差异。这些陈述可通过文中使用"可能"、"将会"、"会"、"将要"、"打算"、"预期"、"相信"、"计划"、"预计"、"估计"、"安排" 、"预测"、"预言"及其他类似用语，或者声明"可能"、"会"、"将会"、"可能会"或"将要"采取、发生或实现某些行动、事件或结果进行识别。这些陈述仅反映本公司于本新闻稿发布当日对于未来事件、表现和业绩的当前预期。
该等陈述包括但不限于下列事项的时间点和结果﹕(i) 关于计划中卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂的所有声明; (ii) 关于完成基本工程预计需要大约七个月时间的说明；(iii) 关于长周期设备的订购声明，以及预计于2022年第二季度开始的土方工程; (iv) 关于预计将在土方工程开始后不久，签署工程、采购和施工管理(EPCM)合同的声明; (v) 关于全面执行时间表的声明，预计时间约为三年; (vi) 关于扩大冶炼厂产能的预计资本成本为7亿美元(100%为基础)的声明，将由艾芬豪的合作伙伴紫金矿业共同出资，现金流来自卡莫阿-卡库拉；(vii) 关于卡库拉矿山预期将会成为全球品位最高的大型铜矿，初始年处理矿石380万吨，预计投产后前5年的平均入选铜品位达6.0%以上、投产后前10年达5.9%的陈述；(viii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉I 期投产后预计每年将生产约20万吨的铜，而I 期和II 期投产后每年将累计生产高达40万吨铜的陈述；(ix) 关于根据独立研究机构排名，一旦项目扩大产能至1,900万吨/年，卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球第二大铜矿山，年度最高铜产量将超过80万吨的陈述；(x) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目将会成为全球每单位铜的温室气体排放量最低矿山之一的陈述；
(xi) 有关卡莫阿铜业有望在2022年第二季度完成第二阶段扩建的声明；(xii) 关于英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组升级后将产生162兆瓦的可再生水电，为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目及冶炼厂提供长期的稳定电力以配合日后扩建计划的陈述。
此外，卡库拉最终可行性研究、卡库拉-卡索科预可行性研究和卡莫阿-卡库拉初步经济评估的所有结果均构成了前瞻性陈述或信息，并包括内部收益率的未来估算、净现值，未来产量、现金成本估算、建议开采计划和方法、矿山服务年限、现金流量预测、金属回收率、资本和运营成本估算，以及项目分期开发的规模和时间点。另外，对于与卡莫阿-卡库拉项目开发有关的特定前瞻性信息，公司是基于某些不确定因素而作出假设和分析。不确定因素包括：(i) 基础设施的充足性；(ii) 地质特征；(iii) 矿化的选冶特征；(iv) 发展充足选矿产能的能力；(v) 铜价格；(vi) 完成开发所需的设备和设施的可用性；(vii) 消耗品和采矿及选矿设备的费用；(viii) 不可预见的技术和工程问题；(ix) 事故或破坏或恐怖主义行为；(x) 货币波动； (xi) 法例修订；(xii) 合资企业伙伴对协议条款的遵守情况；(xiii) 熟练劳工的人手和生产率；(xiv) 各政府机构对矿业的监管；(xv) 筹集足够资金以发展该等项目的能力；(xvi) 项目范围或设计变更；(xvii) 政治因素；以及(xviii) 货物及设备的航运和运输不可预见的延误或停顿。
前瞻性陈述及信息涉及重大风险和不确定性，故不应被视为对未来表现或业绩的保证，并且不能准确地指示能否达到该等业绩。许多因素可能导致实际业绩与前瞻性陈述或信息所讨论的业绩有重大差异，包括但不限于"风险因素"以及本新闻稿其他部分所指的因素，以及有关部门实施的法律、法规或规章或其不可预见的变化；与本公司签订合约的各方没有根据协议履行合约；社会或劳资纠纷；商品价格的变动；以及勘探计划或研究未能达到预期结果或未能产生足以证明和支持继续勘探、研究、开发或运营的结果。
虽然本新闻稿载有的前瞻性陈述是基于公司管理层认为合理的假设而作出，但公司不能向投资者保证实际业绩会与前瞻性陈述的预期一致。这些前瞻性陈述仅是截至本新闻稿发布当日作出，而且受本警示声明明确限制。根据相应的证券法，公司并无义务更新或修改任何前瞻性陈述以反映本新闻稿发布当日后所发生的事件或情况。
由于公司在2021年第三季度的管理层讨论和分析和当前年度信息表中"风险因素"部分所列的因素，公司的实际业绩可能与这些前瞻性陈述中预期的业绩有重大差异。