KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun are pleased to announce that commissioning and ramp up of the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 1, 3.8 million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) concentrator plant have progressed safely and quickly toward nameplate capacity. Kamoa-Kakula’s initial copper concentrate was produced on May 25th.
First ore was introduced into the concentrator plant on May 20th and the start of copper concentrate production occurred on May 25th, several months ahead of schedule. As of May 27th, 71,000 tonnes of ore grading 4.07% copper had been conveyed directly from Kakula’s underground operations to the concentrator. The team currently is busy with hot commissioning and ramp up of the concentrator.
A total of 406,000 tonnes grading 5.77% copper was mined in May and comprised 365,000 tonnes grading 5.89% copper from the Kakula Mine, including 103,000 tonnes grading 8.58% copper from the mine’s high-grade centre, and 41,000 tonnes grading 4.68% copper from the Kansoko Mine.
The ore mined in May contained a record 23,400 tonnes of copper. Approximately 20,600 tonnes of contained copper was delivered to the surface stockpiles and the balance was delivered directly to the concentrator plant.
The project’s pre-production surface stockpiles now contain approximately 3.3 million tonnes of high-grade and medium-grade ore at an estimated, blended average of 4.87% copper. Contained copper in the stockpiles at the end of May now totals more than 160,000 tonnes (the current copper price is approximately US$10,200 a tonne).
Watch a new video showcasing the start of production at Kamoa-Kakula: https://vimeo.com/557991671/7e6d5c4ffa
Members of Kamoa Copper’s management team celebrating the first copper concentrate production with members of the DRA team. DRA, a diversified global engineering group headquartered in Perth, Australia, is the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor for Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 construction.
Moving the copper concentrate for transportation to a local smelter near Kolwezi.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator plant (now in hot commissioning) and the foundations for the Phase 2 plant module are in the red circle. The process water pond and concentrate storage shed are in the foreground.
Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO, remarked: “We are delighted with the progress we have made at the Phase 1 concentrator. As promised at the end of April, we have managed to move into full C4 concentrator commissioning ahead of plan, and we now are producing copper concentrate. The next challenge for the processing team is to ramp up the concentrator to nameplate capacity and reach our planned recovery targets.
“The mining team has continued to perform really well, with volumes consistently around the 400,000-tonne-per-month mark. This remains above the steady-state requirements of the Phase 1 concentrator. We will continue to monitor our mining performance against the ramp-up plan of the Phase 2 concentrator to ensure a smooth and efficient ramp up to steady-state production during 2022.”
Steve Amos, Kamoa Copper’s Head of Projects, commented: “We have been very pleased with the smooth start-up and performance of the Phase 1 plant to date. Our in-country construction, commissioning and operations personnel from both the contractor’s and owner’s teams have done a great job of completing construction and cold commissioning of the plant in a timely manner. We now are in the final process of hot commissioning and ramp up.”
Ivanhoe’s guidance for contained copper in concentrate expected to be produced by Kamoa-Kakula for the balance of 2021 is 80,000 to 95,000 tonnes. The figures are on a 100%-project basis and metal reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator plant in operation, with the foundations for the Phase 2 plant on the right.
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, early average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper, ramping up to 7.6 Mtpa in Q3 2022.
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. 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.
Given the current copper price environment, Ivanhoe and its partner Zijin are exploring the acceleration of the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 concentrator expansion from 7.6 Mtpa to 11.4 Mtpa, which may be fed from expanded mining operations at Kansoko, or new mining areas at Kamoa North (including the Bonanza Zone) and Kakula West.
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.
In May, members of Kamoa-Kakula’s mine development team witnessed the completion of reaming the Kansoko Mine’s first raise-bored, 5.5-metre-diameter ventilation shaft.
Agreement signed with nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter to produce 99% blister copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo; first delivery of copper concentrates on June 1st
On May 31, 2021, Kamoa Copper signed a 10-year agreement with the Lualaba Copper Smelter (LCS), located outside the town of Kolwezi, for the processing of a portion of Kamoa’s copper concentrate production. Kamoa Copper delivered its first copper concentrates to the Lualaba smelter on June 1st.
LCS is 60%-owned by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (CNMC) of Beijing, China. Yunnan Copper of Kunming, China, owns the other 40%.
The agreement follows Ivanhoe Mines and CNMC entering into a strategic partnership with LCS on August 18, 2020, and concludes a negotiation that took place over the last year.
Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO (seated right) and Yang Wei, LCS’ CEO (seated left), sign the 10-year agreement to produce 99% blister copper from Kamoa Copper’s concentrate. Joining them at the contract signing are (L-R) Lui Fang, LCS’ Assistant Marketing Manager; Zhang Yu, LCS’ Marketing Contract Controller; Dong Ming, LCS’ Deputy General Manager; Meng Zhiguo, LCS’ Deputy General Manager; Rochelle de Villiers, Kamoa Copper’s CFO; Ben Munanga, Kamoa Copper’s Chairman; Steve Amos, Kamoa Copper’s Head of Projects; and Minty Cai, Kamoa Copper’s CFO.
The smelter, which began operations in early 2020, will treat up to 150,000 wet metric tonnes of copper concentrates from Kamoa-Kakula, in return for a treatment charge and market-based realization fee, and produce blister copper ingots containing approximately 99% copper that will be collected by Kamoa Copper from a storage area at the LCS site.
LCS is the first modern, large, pyro-metallurgical copper smelter built in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is approximately 40 kilometres from Kamoa-Kakula via the recently-constructed, dedicated by-pass road.
Rochelle de Villiers, Kamoa Copper’s CFO, who is leading the concentrate off-take and marketing negotiations on behalf of the Kamoa Copper joint venture, commented: “Kamoa Copper is pleased to have concluded an agreement with LCS, which will account for just under 40% of the total volumes of concentrates produced by Phase 1, making the most of available in-country smelter capacity. We made our first concentrate deliveries to LCS on June 1st, and we are looking forward to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with our new local partner.”
Convoy of trucks departing Kamoa-Kakula on June 1st with the first shipment of copper concentrate, enroute to the Lualaba Copper Smelter approximately 40 kilometres away.
Kakula is expected to produce an extremely high-grade, clean copper concentrate (containing over 55% copper) that will be highly coveted by smelters around the world. Metallurgical test work indicates that the Kakula concentrates contain extremely low arsenic levels by world standards – approximately 0.01%.
Offtake and export agreements for the balance of the copper concentrates produced during Phase 1 operations are nearing finalization, and include arrangements to export concentrates directly. The company plans to provide an update on Phase 1 copper concentrate off-take arrangements in the near term.
Kamoa Copper also is evaluating the construction of a smelting complex for the production of blister and anode copper. A downstream processing facility has a compelling rationale, significantly reducing the overall volumes of copper concentrate shipped from the mine and the cost of transportation and logistics, export taxes and concentrate treatment charges, as well as producing sulphuric acid as a by-product. There is a strong demand and market for sulphuric acid in the Democratic Republic of Congo to recover oxide copper ores. Copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo currently import significant volumes of sulphur and sulphuric acid for the treatment of oxide copper ores.
Blister copper ingots, containing approximately 99% copper, produced at the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
Pre-production ore stockpiles total 3.3 million tonnes grading 4.87% copper
Chart 1: Cumulative tonnes and grade of pre-production ore stockpiles at the Kakula and Kansoko mines – May 2020 to May 2021.
Chart 2: Growth in contained copper in pre-production ore stockpiles at the Kakula and Kansoko mines – May 2020 to May 2021.
Chart 3: Growth in contained copper in surface stockpiles at Kamoa-Kakula to July 2021. Dotted lines denote projections from the 2020 pre-feasibility study.
Piemme Bukas Amakay, SGS Lab Coordinator, performing chemical analysisin the new on-site assay lab at Kamoa-Kakula.SGS of Geneva, Switzerland is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
Kakula’s main pre-production stockpiles at the northern declines. The blended stockpiles currently contain approximately 1.80 million tonnes grading 5.08% copper.
Kamoa-Kakula achieved an advancement of more than 3,525 metres in May, bringing total underground development to approximately 45.7 kilometres – more than 16.5 kilometres ahead of schedule.
Drift-and-fill stoping operations are progressing well at the Kakula Mine, with the majority of the ore production coming from stoping operations and the remainder coming from mine development activities. Drift-and-fill stoping is a highly-productive mining method of extracting underground ore, where a single tunnel, known as a stope, is extracted leaving an open void that is subsequently backfilled to allow for the extraction of the neighbouring stope in sequence. The backfill plant, which will mix tailings from the processing plant with cement to produce paste backfill, will begin pumping backfill to the underground operations in July.
At both the Kakula South and Kansoko declines, high-grade ore of +6% copper is being stored in separate surface stockpiles that will provide the operating team with tremendous flexibility for optimizing the high-grade ore processed in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants.
Kakula southern decline high-grade and medium-grade ore stockpiles containing a combined 1.12 million tonnes grading 4.89% copper (consisting of 516,000 high-grade tonnes @ 6.69% copper and 605,000 medium-grade tonnes @ 3.35% copper), with the Kakula northern decline and the Kamoa-Kakula concentrator plant in the background.
Kansoko decline blended high-grade and medium-grade ore stockpiles containing a combined 380,000 tonnes grading 3.86% copper (consisting of 104,000 high-grade tonnes @ 6.18% copper and 275,000 medium-grade tonnes @ 2.99% copper). Kansoko is located approximately 10 kilometres north of the Kamoa-Kakula concentrator plant.
Figure 1: Underground development completed at Kakula Mine to June1, 2021 (in black).
(L-R) Clive Kabalibali, Surveyor; Pierrot Kasongo, Shift Boss; and Yannick Tshala Ntambwe, Surveyor, in one of the Kakula Mine’s large, high-grade mining drifts.
Leandro Sanga, Underground Supervisor (left), and Mack Mwambu, underground worker, installing drive belts for a water pump at the Kakula Mine.
Construction and pre-commissioning of the project’s first phase, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant and associated facilities essentially complete, with C4 (hot commissioning) activities underway
First ore was introduced into the ball mills on May 20th, marking the start of C4 commissioning. This was followed by the tailings dam receiving tailings on May 21st and first concentrate production on May25th. The initial 48-hour run test has been completed, which included ramping up the mill throughput to 90% of nameplate capacity. The next step includes running the plant for 72 hours as part of the final performance run. This will conclude the C4 commissioning activities.
The concentrator plant currently is being operated and maintained by the Kamoa operations and engineering teams with assistance from the project commissioning engineers. The operations team has been on site for the last few months receiving classroom and on-the-job training.
Electrical installation at the backfill plant is ongoing and the backfill plant is scheduled to be completed in July, well before paste backfill is required for mining operations.
The backfill plant will be used to mix tailings from the processing plant with cement to produce paste backfill. The backfill will be pumped back into the mine and used to help support mined-out areas. Approximately one half of the mine’s tailings will be sent back underground, significantly reducing the surface tailings storage. Construction of the tailings storage facility is progressing well and is scheduled to be completed on time to receive tailings from the processing plant.
Toussaint Tshipamba, IT Technician, installing fiber-optic cables for the concentrator’s plant control room.
Aerial view of the contractors’ accommodations at Kamoa-Kakula.
Earthworks and civil works progressing well for the second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant, with the first structural steel expected on site in June
Construction of the second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant (Phase 2) is progressing well with the current focus on earthworks and civil works. Structural steel erection is expected to start this month. Both earthworks and civil works are tracking slightly ahead of schedule.
Engineering and procurement activities are progressing well with both more than 50% complete. Fabrication of structural steel and platework is nearing completion with the first structural steel having arrived on site.
Manufacturing of all long-lead items of equipment is well advanced with a number of items complete. Equipment for the Phase 2 plant has started to arrive on site.
The structural steel, mechanical, piping and plate erection contract has been awarded and the contractor has started to mobilize. Tender documents for the electrical, control and instrumentation installation have been issued.
Foundations for the Phase 2 concentrator plant module are advancing quickly.
Foundations for the Phase 2 high-pressure-grinding-rolls (HPGR) stockpile (in red circle) alongside the Phase 1 HPGR stockpile.
Upgrading work at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant nearing completion
Four of the six new turbines at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant now have been synchronized to the national electrical grid, with each generating unit producing approximately 13 megawatts (MW) of power. The completion and commissioning of the hydropower plant’s remaining two generating units, in sequence, is in progress.
In April, Kamoa-Kakula’s energy company signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned power company to upgrade Turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex. Turbine 5 is expected to produce 162 MW of renewable hydropower, providing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and associated smelter with abundant, sustainable electricity for future expansions.
Four of six generating units at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant have been upgraded. Each unit is delivering approximately 13 MW of clean power to the national electrical grid.
Kamoa Copper partners with the Democratic Republic of Congo government, UNICEF and other stakeholders to administer COVID-19 vaccinations
Kamoa-Kakula has successfully focused on prevention, preparation and mitigation in managing the risks associated with COVID-19. Large-scale testing, combined with focused preventative measures, ensured that positive cases were quickly identified, isolated and treated, with cross contamination kept to a minimum. Maintaining this high standard of risk management remains a daily focus, to prevent future cases.
Kamoa Copper has secured an initial supply of 1,000 dosages of the AstraZeneca vaccine for Kamoa employees, contractors and Democratic Republic of Congo residents who live in the mine’s host communities. A second supply of 1,000 dosages is expected in June. The second dose will be administered 8 to 12 weeks after the first and a certificate of vaccination completion will be issued to those who have received two doses.
The Kamoa COVID-19 hospital continues to treat patients when required, as construction progresses for the expansion and upgrade of the primary healthcare wing of the hospital. Kamoa-Kakula’s highly-experienced doctors and nurses apply the latest medical treatments, supported by a world-leading emergency response and paramedic team.
Dr. John Botomwito, Health Manager at Kamoa Copper S.A., commented: “Kamoa is continually working closely with national and provincial stakeholders to improve access to healthcare in the Lualaba Province.”
Kamoa is one of 15 sites in the province where COVID-19 vaccination programs are being rolled-out in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
As the pandemic evolves, the medical team at the Kamoa hospital continues to review and update risk mitigation protocols, while ensuring that new medical advances are investigated and applied to protect the health and safety of employees and community members.
Dr. John Botomwito, Kamoa Copper’s Health Manager (right), administering a COVID-19 vaccination to Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO. Looking on are Kabwit Ngoie Jules, Lualaba Provincial Minister of Health and Social Welfare (back, left), andDr. Patrick Tshinawej Mukiny, Lualaba Provincial PEV (vaccination campaign office) Coordinator (back, right).
Excellent progress is being made on the new primary healthcare wing of the Kamoa hospital.
Kamoa-Kakula constructing an additional 100 fish ponds to expand sustainable aquaculture for increased food security and economic prosperity for local residents
Kamoa-Kakula is constructing another 100 fish ponds in the area surrounding the Kamoa-Kakula Mine, bringing the current number of fish ponds to 137. An additional 25 fish ponds are planned to be constructed, bringing the combined total to 162. The project is part of Kamoa-Kakula Sustainable Livelihoods’ initiative to further increase food security and economic prosperity in the region.
20 new companies have been created for local ownership of these additional ponds, with each company comprising five residents from local communities.
Harvesting of Tilapia fish by Kakweji Tshikuta Castain, one of the new fish farmers from Kamisange Community and a beneficiary of the new fish ponds under construction.
Vero Kahilo, Seamstress, sewing personal protective equipment at the Kamoa-Kakula Sustainable Livelihoods sewing project. The project, nicknamed Salamah (‘security and peace’ in Swahili), was initiated by Kamoa-Kakula’s Local Economic Development team in 2013.
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 the Head of the Kamoa Project. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.
Other disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding the stockpiles in this news release have been reviewed and approved by George Gilchrist, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Gilchrist is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is the Vice President, Resources of Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Gilchrist has verified the other technical data disclosed in this news release.
The stockpile grade estimates contained in this release are based upon bulk ore sampling from earlier underground headings, and vertical channel sample profiles from recent development. Bulk ore sampling was done on each heading every second blast and three 5-kilogram samples were taken. Since the beginning of October 2020, channel sample profiles are the primary data informing the stockpile grade estimates. These are cut approximately 15 metres apart in 1-metre vertical increments across the full vertical exposure using a handheld grinder, with a 100-to-150-gram sample collected. The samples are pulverized at the project’s onsite laboratory and analyzed using a portable XRF (pXRF) instrument. Kamoa Copper has routinely analyzed its exploration drill core for copper using pXRF, in addition to analysis at a commercial laboratory using four acid digest and ICP-OES. This data has demonstrated that pXRF results can be relied upon for grade control and run-of-mine sampling. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout this news release may not add up precisely.
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 joint-venture 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 and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will 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 when large-scale electric, hydrogen and hybrid underground mining equipment become commercially available. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned 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
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) statements regarding Ivanhoe’s guidance for contained copper in concentrate expected to be produced by Kamoa-Kakula for the balance of 2021 is 80,000 to 95,000 tonnes; (ii) statements regarding the backfill plant, which will mix tailings from the processing plant with cement to produce paste backfill, will begin pumping backfill to the underground operations in July; (iii) statements regarding the expectation that Phase 2 of the project’s development when the Kakula concentrator processing capacity doubles to 7.6 Mtpa is to be commissioned in Q3 2022; (iv) 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 operation; (v) 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; (vi) 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; (vii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced; (viii) statements regarding structural steel erection for the Phase 2 concentrator is expected to start this month ; (ix) statements regarding approximately one half of the mine’s tailings will be sent back underground; (x) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula is close to finalizing agreements for the sale of its copper concentrates during Phase 1 operations; (xi) statements regarding Kakula is expected to produce an extremely high grade and clean copper concentrate (containing over 55% copper and extremely low arsenic levels by world standards – approximately 0.01%) that will be highly coveted by copper smelters around the world; and (xiii) 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; and (xvii) political factors.
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 2020 Year-End MD&A and its current annual information form.
刚果民主共和国科卢韦齐 — 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-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) 第一序列年处理矿石380万吨的选厂已正式投产，并正安全及快速地爬坡至额定产能。卡莫阿-卡库拉项目于5月25日生产第一批铜精矿。
第一批矿石于5月20日供给选厂，并于5月25日正式启动铜精矿生产，比原计划提前数月。截至 5月27日，在投产和爬坡阶段已从卡库拉 (Kakula) 井下直接运送71,000吨铜品位4.07%的矿石至选厂。截至5月25日，已从卡库拉井下直接运输铜品位5%-6%的矿石至选厂。
5月份采出40.6万吨矿石，铜品位5.77%，包括在卡库拉矿山采出的36.5万吨矿石，铜品位5.89% (包括在矿床高品位中心采出的10.3万吨矿石，铜品位高达8.58%) ，以及在卡索科 (Kansoko) 矿山采出的41,000吨矿石，铜品位4.68%。
5 月份开采矿石的铜金属量高达 23,400 吨，创下新记录，其中铜金属量约 20,600 吨的矿石被 运送到地表堆场，铜金属量约 2,800 吨的矿石直接送往选厂。
项目投产前地表堆场已储备了约330万吨高品位和中品位矿石，平均铜品位约4.87%。截至5月底，矿堆的铜金属量累计已超过16万吨 (目前的铜价约10,200美元/吨)。
卡莫阿-卡库拉投产的最新视频﹕https://vimeo.com/557991671/7e6d5c4ffa
卡莫阿铜业高管与DRA团队庆祝第一批铜精矿生产。DRA是一家总部位于澳大利亚珀斯的多样化国际工程集团，是卡莫阿-卡库拉I期工程的 EPCM (工程、采购、建设和管理) 承包商。
铜精矿装袋后，发往当地及国际冶炼厂。
红圈显示卡莫阿-卡库拉第一序列选厂及第二序列选厂地基，前方为工艺水池及精矿仓。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (Mark Farren) 表示﹕“我们对于第一序列选厂的进度感到十分满意。正如我们在4月底作出的承诺，选厂已成功提前进行第四阶段试车，我们已开始铜精矿生产。选矿团队的下一个挑战是要将选厂提升至额定产能并达到既定回收率。”
“采掘班组持续良好表现，达到每月采出约40万吨矿石的目标，并已超越第一序列选厂的稳产要求。我们将继续按第二序列选厂的爬坡计划监控采掘进度，以确保于2022年顺利及高效地提升至稳态生产。”
卡莫阿项目负责人史蒂夫·阿莫斯(Steve Amos) 评论说﹕“迄今为止，我们对于第一序列选厂的顺利启动和产能感到非常满意。来自承包商和业主的刚果员工，在施工、试车和运营方面表现出色，按时完成选厂的建设和联动试车工作。目前，我们正在进行最后阶段的带料试车及产能爬坡。”
根据艾芬豪的生产指导目标，预计卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在2021年剩余时间生产精矿的含铜金属量为80,000至95,000吨。所有数字均以 100% 项目为基础。报告的精矿含铜金属量未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。
运行中的卡莫阿-卡库拉第一序列选厂，左侧为第二序列选厂地基。
预计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，估算的前期入选品位超过6.0%，其后于2022年第三季度提升产能至760万吨/年。
I 期投产后预计每年将生产约20万吨铜，而I 期和 II 期投产后每年将累计生产高达40万吨铜。根据独立研究机构排名，一旦项目扩大产能至处理1,900万吨矿石/年，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。
鉴于当前的铜价走势，艾芬豪及其合作伙伴紫金矿业正积极研究加快卡莫阿-卡库拉的III期扩建，将选厂产能从760万吨/年提升至1,140万吨/年，并将由卡索科(Kansoko) 矿山的扩建或卡莫阿北区(包括富矿带) 及卡库拉西区的新采区供给矿石。
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。
5月份，卡莫阿-卡库拉开发团队见证了卡索科矿山首个通风井 (直径5.5 米) 完成扩孔 。
卡莫阿铜业与邻近的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订协议，在刚果民主共和国生产99%粗 铜，第一批铜精矿已于6月1日交付
2021 年5 月31 日，卡莫阿铜业与位于科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂 (以下简称“LCS”) 签署一份为期10 年的协议，LCS将负责卡莫阿部分铜精矿的冶炼加工。卡莫阿铜业已于 6 月 1 日向卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂交付第一批铜精矿。
LCS 由北京的中国有色矿业集团 (以下简称“中国有色”)(占股60%)及昆明的云南铜业 (占股 40%) 持有。
该协议秉承艾芬豪矿业、中国有色和LCS于 2020 年 8 月 18 日缔结的战略合作关系，从去年开始协商并于近日达成协议。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (前排右)及LCS首席执行官杨伟 (前排左) 签署为期10 年的协议，加工处理卡莫阿铜精矿以生产99%粗铜。出席签约仪式得还有﹕(后排从左至右) LCS 助理营销经理刘放、LCS营销合同总监张雨、LCS副总经理董明、LCS副总经理孟志国、卡莫阿铜业首席财务官罗谢尔·德维利耶 (Rochelle de Villiers)、卡莫阿铜业董事长本·穆南加 (Ben Munanga)、卡莫阿铜业项目负责人史蒂夫·阿莫斯，以及卡莫阿铜业联席首席财务官蔡雪琳。
该冶炼厂2020 年初开始投产，将为卡莫阿-卡库拉高达15万湿吨的铜精矿进行粗炼加工，收取加工费和基于市场的变现费作为回报；生产含铜99%的粗铜，粗铜将由卡莫阿铜业从LCS的仓库收回。
LCS 是刚果（金）第一座先进的大型火法铜冶炼厂，距离卡莫阿-卡库拉约 40 公里，经由新建的专用道路进场。
卡莫阿铜业首席财务官罗谢尔·德维利耶代表卡莫阿铜业合资企业，负责领导精矿包销和营销的商谈，他评论说：“卡莫阿铜业很高兴与LCS 达成协议。协议将会涵盖 I期生产精矿总量约40%，充分利用刚果（金）国内冶炼厂的可用产能。我们已于 6 月 1 日向 LCS交付第一批精矿， 期待与当地的新合作伙伴建立长期互利的关系。 ”
6 月 1 日，车队从卡莫阿-卡库拉运送第一批铜精矿前往约 40 公里外的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂。
卡库拉预期将生产品位极高的清洁铜精矿 (品位超过55%)，将是世界各地冶炼厂梦寐以求的优质产品。冶金试验表明，按照世界标准，卡库拉精矿的砷含量极低，约为0.01%。
I期生产的剩余铜精矿的包销及出口协议即将达成，其中包括直接出口精矿的安排。公司计划在近期披露I期生产铜精矿的包销安排的最新信息。
同时，卡莫阿铜业正在对建设粗铜和阳极铜的冶炼厂进行评估。下游冶炼设施可大幅减少从矿山运输铜精矿的总量，降低运输和物流成本、出口税和精矿冶炼加工费，并可生产硫酸副产品。
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和硫酸，以用于处理铜氧化矿。
卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂生产的粗铜，含铜约99%。
投产前地表矿堆已储备矿石 330 万吨，铜品位 4.87%
图表 1﹕2020 年 5 月至 2021 年 5 月期间卡库拉和卡索科矿山的投产前累计堆存矿石量和品位
图表2﹕2020年5月至2021年5月期间卡库拉和卡索科矿山的投产前矿堆铜金属量增长
图表3﹕卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山于2021年7月前，地表矿堆的铜金属量增长预期。虚线是基于2020年预可行性研究作出的预测。
SGS实验室协调员 Piemme Bukas Amakay 在卡莫阿-卡库拉新建的现场化验室进行化学分析。SGS是全球领先的检验、验证、测试和认证机构，总部位于瑞士日内瓦。
卡库拉北斜坡道的投产前矿堆。配矿堆场已储备矿石180万吨，铜品位5.08%。
卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在5月份掘进超过3,525米，地下开拓工程至今完成约45.7公里，超越计划约 16.5公里。
卡库拉矿区的进路充填采矿作业进展顺利，开采的矿石大部分来自回采作业，其余来自掘进。进路充填是一种高效的地下采矿方法，完成一条单一的巷道 (称为采场) 的采矿后，进行采空区回填，进而可以依次开采相邻的采场。回填厂将尾矿与水泥混合制造回填膏体，并将于7月开始将回填料泵回井下开展充填作业。
在卡库拉南斜坡道和卡索科斜坡道，铜品位超过6%的高品位矿石将会被堆放在单独的地表堆场， 这将为现场团队提供极大的灵活性，以优化第一序列和第二序列选厂处理的高品位矿石。
卡库拉南斜坡道的高品位和中品位堆场共储备约112万吨矿石，铜品位4.89% (其中包含 51.6万吨高品位矿石，铜品位6.69%；以及60.5万吨中等品位矿石，铜品位3.35%)，背景为卡库拉北斜坡道和卡莫阿-卡库拉选厂。
卡索科斜坡道的高品位和中品位配矿堆场共储备38万吨矿石，铜品位3.86% (其中包含10.4万吨高品位矿石，铜品位6.18%；以及27.5万吨中等品位矿石，铜品位2.99%)。卡索科位于卡莫阿-卡库拉选厂以北约10公里处。
图1﹕截至2021年6月1日在卡库拉矿山已完成的地下开拓工程 (黑色)。
(从左至右) 测量员Clive Kabalibali、班长Pierrot Kasongo和测量员 Yannick TshalaNtambwe 在卡库拉矿山其中一条高品位平巷。
井下主管 Leandro Sanga (左) 和矿工 Mack Mwambu 在卡库拉矿山安装水泵传动带。
第一序列380万吨/年选矿设施的建设和预试车已基本竣工，正在进行第四阶段带料试车
第一批矿石已于5月20日供给球磨机，标志着第四阶段试车正式启动。其后，尾矿库于 5 月 21 日开始接收尾矿，并于 5 月 25 日实现第一批铜精矿的生产。选厂已完成初始48小时的连续试车， 并已提升处理量至90%的额定产能。下一步将开展 72 小时连续运行，这是选厂最终性能测试的一部分， 也是第四阶段试车的总结期。
选厂目前由卡莫阿的现场和工程团队负责操作和维护，并由项目试车工程师从旁协助。现场团队在过去几个月一直在现场参加课程和在职培训。
回填厂正在开展电气安装，将于7月在采矿作业需要膏体充填之前竣工。
回填厂将尾矿与水泥混合制造回填膏体。回填料将被泵至井下用于采空区回填。矿山约一半的尾矿将用于井下回填，大大减少地表的尾矿量。尾矿库的施工进展顺利，将如期完工以接收来自选厂的尾矿。
IT技术员 Toussaint Tshipamba 在选厂控制室安装光纤电线。
卡莫阿-卡库拉承包商宿舍鸟瞰图
第二序列380万吨/年选厂的土方和土木工程进展顺利，首批钢结构将于6月运抵现场
第二序列380万吨/年选厂 (II期) 施工进展顺利，目前正重点进行土方和土木工程。钢结构的安装预计于本月开展。土方和土木两项工程都略微超越既定目标。
工程设计和采购工作进展顺利，目前已完成超过50%。钢结构和钣金制造已将近完成，首批钢材已抵达现场。
所有长周期设备制造的进展顺利，部分设备已制造完成。第二序列选厂的设备已陆续抵达现场。
钢材、机械、管道和钣金的安装合同已签署，承包商已开始动员进场。电器、控制和仪表安装的招标文件已发出。
第二序列选厂的地基建设正在全速推进。
第二序列高压辊磨机矿堆的地基 (红圈)，旁边为第一序列高压辊磨机矿堆。
Mwadingusha水电站的升级工程接近完成
Mwadingusha水电站的6台新涡轮机中的4台已与国家电网并网，每台发电机组可产生约13兆 瓦的电力。水电站的其余两台发电机组将陆续完工及进行试车。
卡莫阿-卡库拉的能源公司于4月份与刚果（金）国家电力公司签署英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造协议。 5号涡轮机组将产生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的扩建计划。
水电站的6台新涡轮机中的4台已进行升级改造，每台发电机组可产生约13兆瓦的清洁电力供给国家电网。
卡莫阿铜业与刚果（金）政府、联合国儿童基金会和其他利益相关方合作实施COVID-19 新冠疫苗接种计划
卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山成功以防疫、防控及降低风险为重点，应对COVID-19疫情。项目进行大规模的检测，加上重点实施防疫措施，确保能够及早发现确诊个案并即时进行隔离和治疗，以降低交叉感染的风险。项目将继续保持高水平的日常风险管理，以防止日后出现确诊个案。
卡莫阿铜业已取得首期1,000剂的阿斯利康 (AstraZeneca)疫苗，为卡莫阿员工、承包商以及矿山运营社区的刚果居民进行接种。预计第二批1,000剂的疫苗将于 6 月运抵现场。第二剂疫苗将 在第一剂接种后 8 至 12 周内完成，完成两剂疫苗接种后将发放疫苗证书。
卡莫阿COVID-19医院的主医疗大楼正在扩建升级，在有需要时继续为患者提供治疗。卡莫阿-卡库拉经验丰富的医生和护士，在世界领先的紧急响应及医护团队的支援下，利用最新技术进行治疗。
卡莫阿铜业健康经理 John Botomwito 博士表示：“卡莫阿一直与国家级和省级利益相关方紧密合作，以改善卢阿拉巴省的医疗服务。”
卡莫阿是卢阿拉巴省正在推行 COVID-19 新冠疫苗接种计划的15个地点之一，以防止病毒蔓延。
随着疫情的变化，卡莫阿医院的医疗队伍将继续审核和更新其疫情防控方案，并确保在应用新医疗技术之前进行审查，以保护员工和社区成员的安全和健康。
卡莫阿铜业健康经理 John Botomwito 博士 (右) 为卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦注射COVID-19新冠疫苗。出席者包括卢阿拉巴省卫生和社会福利部部长 Kabwit Ngoie Jules (后排左)及卢阿拉巴省 PEV (疫苗接种宣传办公室) 协调员 Patrick Tshinawej Mukiny 博士 (后排右)。
卡莫阿医院新建的主医疗大楼施工进展顺利。
卡莫阿-卡库拉建设 100 个新鱼塘，扩大可持续水产养殖的规模，提高当地居民的粮食安全和经济发展
卡莫阿-卡库拉正在卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山周边范围建设 100 个新鱼塘，已建成数量增加至 137 个， 并计划再建设 25 个鱼塘，使总数达到 162 个。该项目是卡莫阿-卡库拉可持续民生计划的另一举措，进一步提高该地区的粮食安全和经济发展。
新成立了 20 家公司，每家公司由 5 名当地社区的居民组成并拥有这些新建鱼塘的所有权。
Kamisange 社区其中一名新养鱼户Kakweji Tshikuta Castin 在捕捞罗非鱼，他是建设中的新鱼塘的受益者之一。
裁缝Vero Kahilo为卡莫阿-卡库拉可持续民生计划的缝纫项目缝制个人防护设备。“Salamah” (斯瓦希里语中的“安全与和平”) 项目，由卡莫阿-卡库拉的当地经济发展团队于2013年创办。
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。
本新闻稿中关于矿堆的其它科学或技术性披露已经由乔治·吉尔克里斯特 (George Gilchrist) 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 条款下的合资格人。由于吉 尔克里斯特先生是艾芬豪矿业资源部副总裁，因此他并不符合NI 43-101 对独立人士的界定。吉尔克里斯特先生已核实本新闻稿所披露的其它技术数据。
本新闻稿所载的矿堆品位估算值是基于早前从地下巷道的大样以及从最近开展的垂直剖面刻槽取样。每个巷道进行第二次爆破时取样，并采集3个5公斤重的样品。从2020年10月起使用刻槽取样的样品作为矿堆品位估算的主要数据，大约每15米在整个垂直剖面上使用手持式切割机按1 米垂直间隔进行采样，收集100-150克重的样品。在项目现场实验室磨样加工后，使用便携式XRF (pXRF) 仪器进行分析。除了在商业实验室利用4酸消解和ICP-OES进行分析之外，卡莫阿铜业也经常使用pXRF分析钻孔岩芯中的铜含量。该数据表明，pXRF结果可用于品位控制和原矿取样。由于四舍五入，本新闻稿所载数字的相加可能与总和不符。
艾芬豪已经为卡莫阿-卡库拉项目编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的独立技术报告，该报告可在艾芬豪网站以及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；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。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2021年5月实现铜生产，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-卡库拉铜矿将会在电、氢和混合技术的大型地下采矿设备可供商业使用时尽快引入采矿作业，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其全资拥有的、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) 关于根据艾芬豪的生产指导目标，预计卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在2021年剩余时间生产精矿的含铜金属量为80,000至95,000吨的陈述；(ii) 关于回填厂将尾矿与水泥混合制造回填膏体，并将于7月开始将回填料泵回井下作业的陈述；(iii) 关于项目在进行II期开发时， 卡库拉选厂扩大至760万吨/年的产能需求，预计于2022年第三季度实现投产的陈述；(iv) 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%以上的陈述(v) 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；(vi) 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；(vii) 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；(viii) 关于第二序列选厂的钢结构安装将于本月开展的陈述；(ix) 关于矿山约一半的尾矿将被泵送回地下的陈述；(x) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿在I期运营期间的铜精矿销售协议即将达成的陈述；(xi) 关于卡库拉预计将生产品位极高的清洁铜精矿(铜品位超过55%，按照世界标准，卡库拉精矿的砷含量极低，约为0.01%)，它将是世界各地铜冶 炼厂梦寐以求的产品的陈述；以及(xiii) 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；(xiv) 项目范围或设计变更；以及(xv) 政治因素。
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2020年年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。