KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced that Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1, 3.8 million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) concentrator plant has met, or exceeded, all design criteria and now is operating at steady-state. Optimization work is underway to further enhance the plant’s operating performance.
A total of 323,368 tonnes of ore was milled in October at an average feed grade of 5.89% copper, exceeding the monthly design run rate of 316,667 tonnes.
Production during the last 10 days of October averaged 611 tonnes of copper in concentrate per day. On October 25, a new daily production record of 729 tonnes of copper in concentrate was achieved.
A record 16,211 tonnes of copper in concentrate was produced (filtered product) in the reporting month ended October 20 – Kamoa Copper’s fifth full month of production –nearing the Phase 1 target output of 16,666 tonnes per month, or 200,000 tonnes per annum.
The average floated concentrate copper grade in October was 51.5%. A total of 62,974 tonnes of copper in concentrate had been produced year-to-date as of October 20, 2021, for delivery to either the Lualaba Copper Smelter near Kolwezi, or to international markets.
Copper flotation recoveries averaged 85.1% in October. The Phase 1, steady-state-design copper recovery is approximately 86%, depending on ore feed grade.
As the Phase 1 concentrator plant is operating at steady-state design capacity, further production updates will be provided only on a quarterly basis, but reporting on Phase 2 construction progress will continue. Ivanhoe Mines will report its Q3 2021 financial results before market open on Monday, November 15, 2021, which will include the inaugural quarterly financial results for Kamoa-Kakula.
Chart 1: Cumulative tonnes of copper produced May 2021 to October 20, 2021.
Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO, commented: “October was an important milestone month for us in many ways. The project team managed to commission the second concentrate filter press which we believe will create a lot of flexibility downstream. Concentrate volumes now can be increased to match the potential of the front end of the concentrator plant (milling), enabling recoveries to be tweaked by increasing the mass pull to the concentrate thickener. While it took a few weeks to fine tune the second filter press, the plant performance met steady-state expectations despite intermittent regional power outages during the first three weeks of October. The last 10 days of the month saw production average 611 tonnes of copper in concentrate, and a new daily production record of 729 tonnes of copper was achieved on October 25. This excellent achievement highlights the level of production we are targeting in future.
“Barring any major issues, the operational team is confident that we will reach the upper end of our production guidance of between 90,000 and 95,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021.
“Also during October, the Kakula mining team encountered a significant inflow of water at the northern perimeter drift. This water inflow was well managed and monthly underground production volumes were maintained at approximately 400,000 tonnes. Surface ore stockpiles have increased to more than 3.73 million tonnes. This trend is likely to continue into Q2 2022, when the Phase 2 concentrator is expected to begin operations. The Phase 2 concentrator construction remains ahead of schedule and on budget.”
Ivanhoe’s production guidance for contained copper in concentrate at Kamoa-Kakula in 2021 has been increased to 90,000 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.
The second concentrate filter press was commissioned during the month and now is fully operational. The second filter removes a bottleneck to allow Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator to take advantage of the exceptionally high-grade copper ore being processed directly from Kakula’s underground mining operations and surface stockpiles, and produce copper concentrate above design parameters.
As a result of instability of the regional transmission network, intermittent power outages were observed during the first three weeks of October. This had a negative impact on October’s copper production and overall mine and mill performance. Kamoa Copper, together with the DRC state-owned company La Société Nationale d'Electricité (SNEL), have identified three critical areas in the regional transmission network that require urgent upgrading to significantly improve network reliability, which are expected to be completed in the next two months at an estimated capital cost of under US$0.5 million. In addition, Kamoa Copper is evaluating longer-term options for back-up power storage to maintain full operations during interruptions.
Watch a new Kamoa Copper video: https://vimeo.com/641073377/95131537ea
Phase 2 concentrator plant construction is approximately 60% complete, with current focus on structural steel, mechanical, piping and platework (SMPP); electrical installation now underway
On October 22, 2021, the project construction team reached 4.0 million lost-time-injury-free hours. This milestone underscores the strict safety culture of the Kamoa Copper construction team and contractors.
Construction of the second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant (Phase 2) is progressing well, with the overall project approximately 60% complete; engineering and procurement activities are effectively complete, with fabrication over 92% complete. The main construction focus remains on the erection of structural steel and the installation of platework and equipment. Both ball mills have been lifted into position and installation of the girth gears currently is underway. The mill installation is expected to be complete by the end of the year. All 14 flotation cells (eight rougher/scavengers and six cleaners) are in position. Electrical cable installation has commenced.
The bulk of the 2,193 tonnes of structural steel and 570 tonnes of platework is on site and the majority of the 18,644 metres of piping is en route to site. The last deliveries of structural steel, piping and platework are expected to arrive by the end of November. More than 550 truckloads of Phase 2 construction equipment and materials already have been delivered to site and another 31 truckloads are en route.
All 14 flotation cells for the Phase 2 concentrator have been installed.
Phase 2 expansion of the concentrate storage warehouse is well underway.
Clement Kabuanga (left) and Herve Shimba installing Phase 2 ore conveyors.
Cranes lifting sections of the Phase 2 ore conveyors into place.
Installing the trunion bearing on the Phase 2 primary ball mill.
Ongoing installation of the two ball mills for the Phase 2 concentrator.
Construction of the Phase 2 HPGR tower and the feed and product conveyors (on the right) adjacent to the Phase 1 HPGR tower and conveyors.
Wilbert Kakudji (left) and Jing Dong reviewing engineering drawings for the Phase 2 ore conveyor systems.
Surveyor Lumbu Ghislain Pansemoya using ground-penetrating radar to locate underground piping and cabling.
Mining continues ahead of schedule, adding to the surface ore stockpiles
A total of 395,000 tonnes grading 5.73% copper was mined during the period from September 21 to October 20, including 174,000 tonnes grading 6.91% copper from the Kakula Mine’s high-grade centre and 35,000 tonnes grading 3.84% copper from the Kansoko Mine. The project’s surface stockpiles now contain approximately 3.73 million tonnes of high-grade and medium-grade ore at an estimated, blended average of 4.72% copper. Contained copper in the stockpiles at the end of August now totals more than 175,000 tonnes (the current copper price is approximately US$9,500 per tonne).
Since September, crews have been transporting high-grade ore from the surface stockpile near the Kakula southern decline directly to the Phase 1 concentrator plant or to the main surface stockpiles near the Kakula northern decline.
During October, a north-south, water-bearing structure was intersected at the Kakula Mine’s northern perimeter drift. This new structure produced a considerable water in-flow that caused some localized flooding in the surrounding workings in early October. The water inflow has been controlled and the flooded areas have been largely dewatered.The inflow caused the mine’s average dewatering rate to increase to a peak of approximately 1,300 litres per second (l/s).
The Kakula Mine has an installed water-pumping capacity to surface of 2,600 l/s, with plans to increase the mine’s installed pumping capacity to 5,700 l/s in 2022. Hydrological studies are ongoing, with models being updated to reflect the new findings and day-to-day hydrology monitoring, which will be used to plan in advance of mining operations.
Chart 2: Cumulative tonnes and grade of ore stockpiles at the Kakula and Kansoko mines – May 2020 to October 2021.
Chart 3: Growth in contained copper in ore stockpiles at the Kakula and Kansoko mines – May 2020 to October 2021.
The Kakula northern declines, Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants and main ore stockpiles. The blended stockpiles currently contain approximately 1.85 million tonnes grading 5.12% copper.
The Kakula southern decline and ore stockpiles containing a combined 1.32 million tonnes grading 4.52% copper (consisting of 521,000 high-grade tonnes @ 6.18% copper and 796,000 medium-grade tonnes @ 3.42% copper).
The Kansoko decline and ore stockpiles containing a combined 556,000 tonnes grading 3.87% copper (consisting of 176,000 high-grade tonnes @ 5.78% copper and 380,000 medium-grade tonnes @ 2.99% copper).
Figure 1: Underground development completed at Kakula Mine to October 28, 2021 (in black).
Kamoa-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. 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. 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.
Initial scope of Phase 3 expansion project nearing completion, with study work advancing; geotechnical drilling work underway to determine exact location of a new box cut to open up Kansoko Central and Kamoa North mining footprint
The scope of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion includes a third concentrator plant to be located adjacent to the Kansoko Mine (at the Kansoko Sud orebody), approximately 10 kilometres north of the Kakula Mine. The Phase 3 concentrator is being designed to have a larger nameplate milling capacity than the 3.8-Mtpa nameplate milling capacity of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators.
The planned Phase 3 concentrator is expected to be fed from a combination of the established mine at Kansoko Sud together with opening the Kansoko Central orebody and the first of the Kamoa North mining areas.
Phase 3 also includes the upgrade of turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex to provide an additional 162 megawatts (MW) of renewable hydropower, and the construction of a direct-to-blister smelter, with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper.
Study work on all aspects of the Phase 3 expansion is underway, with expected completion during 2022, after which Kamoa Copper will advance into a more detailed phase of design and engineering work.
In parallel, a location for the new box cut, which will provide access to the Kansoko Central orebody and the first of the Kamoa North mining areas, has been identified and geotechnical drilling is underway to confirm the suitability of the location. Kamoa Copper is expected to break ground on the box cut early in 2022.
Geotechnical drilling underway at the location of a new box cut (in the red circle). The Kansoko decline and surface ore stockpiles are in the background.
Basic engineering design for a Kamoa Copper smelter to be awarded shortly
A feasibility study for an on-site smelter complex at Kamoa-Kakula was completed in early 2021 by China Nerin Engineering Company Ltd. of Jiangxi, China.
Kamoa Copper recently completed a tender process for basic engineering and Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for a direct-to-blister smelter with a 500,000-tonne-per-annum production capacity of blister copper. The principal technology for the smelter will be supplied by Outotec Oyj of Helsinki, Finland. All tenders have been received, clarifications carried out and adjudicated. Kamoa Copper expects to award the basic engineering study to the preferred engineering company shortly.
Kamoa Copper’s green energy focus now on the Inga II hydropower plant as source of additional clean electricity to power Kamoa-Kakula expansions
In August 2021, Kamoa-Kakula’s energy company signed an extension of the existing financing agreement with SNEL to upgrade turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex. Since June 2021, rehabilitation scoping works and technical visits have been conducted by Stucky Ltd. of Renens, Switzerland, and Voith Hydro of Heidenheim, Germany, a leading engineering group. Voith Hydro, the contractor for the turbine 5 upgrade, has successfully rehabilitated two turbine generators at the adjoining Inga I hydropower plant, a project that was financed by the World Bank.
Turbine 5 is expected to produce 162 MW of renewable hydropower, providing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and the planned, associated smelter with abundant, sustainable electricity for future expansions.
Early works related to the removal of sand from the area around turbine 5 is nearing completion, which will allow the engineering team to complete the scoping work. Dismantling of turbine 5, starting on the alternator level, has commenced. Basic engineering for the design of a new turbine wheel and runners is ongoing at Voith’s Heidenheim offices.
Ivanhoe Mines expects to soon provide an update on the expected upgrading costs for turbine 5, as well as the expected timeline for completion of the upgrading project.
The Inga II hydropower facility on the Congo River.
Engineers from Kamoa Copper, SNEL, Stucky and Voith Hydro at Inga II’s turbine 5.
Engineers from Kamoa Copper, SNEL, Stucky and Voith Hydro at the 8-metre diameter penstock for turbine 5.
Workers removing sand from the tube underneath turbine 5.
Kamoa Copper’s transformation department launches talent development program
Kamoa Copper’s innovative new Kipaji Development Program focuses on developing Congolese talent into the company’s future leaders and industry advocates. Selected candidates will be put through a rigorous development process with personalized development plans and mentoring to enhance their leadership and technical strengths. The Swahili word “Kipaji” means talented or gifted, which is appropriate given Kamoa Copper’s aspiration to develop the next generation of industry leaders to help shapethe future of mining in the DRC.
On October 16, 2021, Kamoa Copper’s Chairman Ben Munanga, CEO Mark Farren, and the Transformation Department hosted a networking lunch to celebrate the official launch of the Kipaji Development Program. Guests included the initial 30 selected Kipaji candidates, and members of Kamoa Copper’s senior management team who have volunteered as mentors.
Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO, congratulating the Kipaji candidates.
Members of Kipushi’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability team visiting Kamoa Copper for an exchange of ideas. (L-R) Altesse Kabange, Trainee Metallurgist, Kamoa Copper; Nathalie Bono Kikaba, Socio-Economics Manager and Olivia Simamba, Community Relations Officer, both from Kipushi.
Landscaper Irene Kipapa Bustani planting flowers at Kamoa-Kakula.
Landscaping complete at Kamoa-Kakula’s new concentrator office complex.
Leon Tshikuta, Kamoa Copper’s Community Relations Superintendent (right), hands the keys to a brand new home in the village of Kaponda to Garspard Mukinda Bisanka (centre) and his wife Ngwewa Kausa Elize as part of the company’s relocation program.
In October, H.E. Fifi Masuka Saini, Vice Governor of Lualaba Province (centre), visited the Kamoa-Kakula Project, together with Abigael Kalombo, Protocol Agent, Ministry of Tourism (left), and Splendide Tshot, Journalist.
Ivanhoe Mines Q3 2021 financial results and conference call for investors on November 15, 2021
Ivanhoe Mines will report its Q3 2021 financial results before market open on Monday, November 15, 2021. Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results at 10:30AM Eastern Time the same day.
Conference call and webcast details
Link to join the live audio webcast:http://services.choruscall.ca/links/ivanhoemines20211115.html
Phone numbers to join the live conference call:
Canada/USA toll-free dial-in number: 1-800-319-4610
International dial-in number: +1-604-638-5340
Participants should dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and ask to join the Ivanhoe Mines conference call.
Investors and analysts are encouraged to submit questions via email to info@ivanhoemines.com prior to the start of the call. During the question-and-answer period, management will respond to questions submitted as time allows.
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.
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 related to the stockpiles disclosed in this news release.
The stockpile grade estimates contained in this release are based upon bulk ore sampling from material being fed to the plant from surface stockpiles, and underground vertical channel sample profiles from recent development. Channel sample profiles 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 projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper joint-venture 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 are being powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and are 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
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 2021 has been increased to between 90,000 to 95,000 tonnes; (ii) statements regarding the expectation that the Phase 2 concentrator is expected to begin operations in Q2 2022; (iii) 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; (iv) 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; (v) 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; (vi) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced; (vii) statements regarding the adjustments being incorporated into the Phase 1 processing circuit should position Kamoa-Kakula to achieve 2021 copper production in the upper end of the new guidance of 90,000 to 95,000 tonnes; (viii) 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; (ix) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion; (x) statements regarding the three critical areas in the regional transmission network that require urgent upgrading to significantly improve network reliability, which are expected to be completed in the next two months at an estimated capital cost of under US$0.5 million; and (xi) statements regarding Kamoa Copper expects to award the basic engineering study for an on-site smelter to the preferred engineering company shortly.
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; (xviii) unforeseen delays or stoppages in shipping and transportation of goods and equipment;(xix) water inflow into the mine and its potential effect on mining operations; and (xx) the consistency and availability of electric power.
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 Q2 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) I期年处理矿石380万吨选厂已达到或超越所有设计标准，现已实现稳产作业。目前正进行优化工作，将进一步提升选厂的作业产能。
10月份处理矿石量达323,368吨，高于月度设计产能的316,667吨，平均入选铜品位达5.89%。
10月份最后10天平均单日生产精矿含铜金属611吨，并于10月25日创下新纪录，单日生产729吨铜。
截至10月20日止，即卡莫阿铜业的第5个完整报表月度，共生产精矿含铜金属16,211吨，即将达到 I 期目标产量16,666吨铜/月或20万吨铜/年。
10月份的平均浮选铜精矿品位达51.5%。截至2021年10月20日，今年总共生产精矿含铜金属达62,974吨，运至位于科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂或出口到国际市场。
10月份的平均浮选铜回收率达85.1%。I 期选厂设计稳产的铜回收率约86%，视入选品位有所浮动。
由于 I 期选厂已达到设计稳态产能，公司日后将只发布季度的生产更新，但仍会继续报告 II 期的建设进度。艾芬豪矿业将于2021年11月15日周一开市前公布2021年第三季度财务报告，其中将包括卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的首个季度财务业绩。
图表1﹕2021年5月至2021年10月20日期间的累计铜产量。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (Mark Farren) 评论说﹕“10月份对我们来说，在多方面有着重要的里程碑意义。项目团队成功实现第二台精矿压滤机的投产，这将为下游带来更大的灵活性。目前，我们可以增加精矿产量以适配选厂的前端生产潜力，通过提升精矿浓密机的产率以调整回收率。第二台压滤机投产后，我们花了数周时间进行微调。虽然10月份前三周出现了地区性的间歇停电，但是选厂仍能保持稳产作业。本月最后10天生产精矿含铜金属达到平均611吨，并于10月25日创下新纪录，单日生产729吨铜。团队的出色表现，更加加强了我们实现生产指导目标的信心。”
“除非出现重大问题，否则项目团队有信心能够于2021年实现生产指导目标90,000至95,000吨的较高铜产量。”
“此外，北部巷道10月份出现了大量涌水的问题。卡库拉采矿团队成功控制涌水量，维持地下产量在约40万吨/月的水平。地表矿石堆场现已储备超过373万吨矿石，预计 II 期选厂于2022年第二季度投产时，堆存矿石量将持续上升趋势。II 期选厂的建设工程进展顺利，在预算之内且建设进度超前。”
艾芬豪对于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在2021年精矿含铜金属的生产指导目标已上调为90,000至95,000吨。上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。报告的精矿含铜金属量未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。
第二台精矿压滤机于本月启动投产，现已全负荷运行。第二台压滤机将有助于解决瓶颈问题，使卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期选厂具有直接处理来自卡库拉地下开采和地表矿堆超高品位矿石的优势，并生产优于设计指标的铜精矿。
由于区域输电网络不稳定，10月份前三周的电力供应出现了间歇性中断，对于10月份的铜产量以及矿山和选厂的整体表现带来了负面的影响。卡莫阿铜业与刚果(金)国有电力公司SNEL已在区域输电网络中确定了三个亟需升级改造，以大幅改善网络稳定性的环节，预计在未来两个月内完成，预计资本性支出低于50万美元。此外，卡莫阿铜业正研究长远的备用储能方案，以确保项目在电力中断期间仍能保持整体运作。
点击观看卡莫阿铜业的全新视频﹕https://vimeo.com/641073377/95131537ea
II期选厂的建设工程已完成约60%，目前正重点推进钢结构、机械、管道和钣金的安装；电气安装正在进行中
截至2021年10月22日，项目的施工团队实现了400万个零失时工伤工时。里程碑式的业绩反映了卡莫阿铜业的施工团队和承包商严格遵守安全标准的文化。
II 期380万吨/年选厂施工进展顺利，项目整体已完成约60%；工程设计和采购工作基本上已完工，且设备加工已完成92%以上。目前正重点推进钢结构以及钣金和设备的安装。两台球磨机已吊装就位，现正进行齿轮的安装，预计将于年底之前完成球磨机的安装。14台浮选机组 (8台粗选机/扫选机和6台精选机) 已全部安装完成。电缆的安装工作已经启动。
大部分钢结构 (共2,193吨) 和钣金 (共570吨) 已运达现场，而大部分管道 (共18,644米) 则在运送途中。预计最后一批钢结构、管道和钣金将于11月底运抵现场。超过550辆装载 II 期工程设备和材料的卡车已抵达现场，另外31辆卡车在运送途中。
II期选厂的14台浮选机组已全部安装完成。
II期扩建的精矿仓施工进展顺利。
Clement Kabuanga (左) 和 Herve Shimba 在II期选厂安装矿石传送机。
起重机在 II 期选厂进行矿石传送机的分段吊装。
在II期选厂安装第一台球磨机。
在II期选厂进行两台球磨机的安装。
施工中的 II 期高压辊磨机塔及进料和产品传送带 (右) 以及旁边的 I 期高压辊磨机塔和传送带。
Wilbert Kakudji (左) 和荆东在审阅II期矿石输送系统的工程设计图。
测量员 Lumbu Ghislain Pansemoya 使用探测雷达定位地下管道和电缆。
采矿作业持续超计划推进，扩大地表堆矿
9月21日至10月20日期间采出了39.5万吨矿石，铜品位 5.73%，其中包括在卡库拉矿床高品位中心采出17.4万吨矿石，铜品位高达6.91%，以及在卡索科矿山采出的3.5万吨矿石，铜品位3.84%。项目地表堆存了约373万吨高品位和中品位矿石，平均铜品位4.72%。截至8月底，地表堆场所含铜金属量累计已超过17.5万吨 (当前铜价约9,500美元/吨)。
9月份开始从卡库拉南斜坡道附近地表堆场的高品位矿石直接运送到 I 期选厂或卡库拉北斜坡道附近的主堆场。
10月份，在卡莫阿-卡库拉北部主巷道打到一个含水构造。10月初，这个新结构造成大量涌水，导致周边的采区出现局部进水的情况。通过大量抽水，现已得到控制。构造涌水导致矿山的平均涌水率增加至约1,300升/秒的峰值。
卡库拉矿山的泵站排水量达每秒2,600升/秒至地表，并计划于2022年增加至5,700升/秒。水文地质研究工作继续进行，并已更新模型以反映最新的结果和日常的水文观测，将用于开采作业前的设计工作。
图表2﹕2020年5月至2021年10月期间卡库拉和卡索科矿山累计堆存矿石量和品位
图表3﹕2020年5月至2021年10月期间卡库拉和卡索科矿山的矿堆铜金属量增长
卡库拉北斜坡道、I期和II期选厂以及主堆场 (红圈) 的位置。配矿堆场已储备矿石约185万吨，铜品位5.12%。
卡库拉南斜坡道和矿石堆场共储备132万吨矿石，铜品位4.52% (其中包含52.1万吨高品位矿石，铜品位6.18%；以及79.6万吨中品位矿石，铜品位3.42%)。
卡索科矿山和矿石堆场共储备55.6万吨矿石，铜品位3.87% (其中包含17.6万吨高品位矿石，铜品位5.78%；以及38万吨中品位矿石，铜品位2.99%)。
图1﹕截至2021年10月28日在卡库拉矿山已完成的开拓工程 (黑色)。
预计卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球品位最高的大型铜矿山，初始年开采矿石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。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/年矿石，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。
III期扩建项目的初步工程范围快将完成，研究工作进展顺利；目前正进行岩土钻探工程以确定新箱形切割槽的位置，开拓卡索科中部和卡莫阿北区的采矿范围
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建的工程范围包括第三座选厂，将建设在卡索科矿山 (卡索科南部矿体) 附近，距离卡库拉矿山以北约10公里处。III 期选厂的设计产能，将会高于 I 期和 II 期选厂的380万吨/年。
预计规划中的 III 期选厂将处理来自卡索科南部开采矿石以及即将开拓的卡索科中部矿体和卡莫阿首个采区提供的矿石。
III 期扩建范围还将涵盖英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造，以供应162兆瓦的可再生水电，包括直接粗铜冶炼厂的建设，年产率达到50万吨粗铜。
III 期扩建各个领域的研究工作正进行中，预计将于2022年内完成。研究工作完成后，卡莫阿铜业将进入更详细的工程设计和施工阶段。
同时，项目已确定斜坡道井口的位置，将用于卡索科中部矿体和卡莫阿北区首个采区的进场通道，目前正进行岩土工程钻探以确定位置的合适性。卡莫阿铜业预计将于2022年初开展井口工程的施工。
在新井口位置 (红圈) 进行岩土工程钻探。图中背景为卡索科斜坡道和地表矿石堆场。
卡莫阿铜业冶炼厂的基础工程设计合同快将签字
中国瑞林工程技术有限公司就卡莫阿-卡库拉现场建设冶炼厂进行的可行性研究已于2021年初完成。
卡莫阿铜业最近为直接粗铜冶炼厂 (年产率达50万吨粗铜) 的基础工程设计采购与施工管理 (EPCM) 服务进行招标。芬兰赫尔辛基的 Outotec公司将为冶炼厂提供主要技术服务。目前，卡莫阿铜业已收到标书，并已完成答辩和评标。
卡莫阿铜业的绿色能源焦点目前在英加二期水电站，将为卡莫阿-卡库拉后续扩展供给额外的清洁电源
卡莫阿-卡库拉的能源公司于2021年8月与SNEL扩展现有的融资协议，在英加二期水电站进行5号涡轮机组的升级工程。瑞士洛桑的Stucky公司和领先工程集团德国海登海姆的福伊特水电 (Voith Hydro) 从2021年6月起负责界定项目的修缮范围并开展技术性考察。5号涡轮机组升级的承包商福伊特水电曾成功地修复了英加一期水电站的两台涡轮发电机，该项目由世界银行提供资金。
预计5号涡轮机组将产生162兆瓦的可再生水电，为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目和扩建以及规划中的冶炼厂提供长期的稳定电力。
在5号涡轮机组周边范围清除沙石的前期工作即将完成，这将使工程团队能够顺利完成相关工作。5号涡轮机组的拆卸工程正进行中，从发电机部分开始。福伊特水电在海登海姆办事处的人员正进行新涡轮和转轮的基础工程设计。
艾芬豪预计即将对5号涡轮机组的升级工程提供最新的成本估算，以及工程时间规划。
刚果河上的英加二期水电站。
卡莫阿铜业、SNEL、Stucky和福伊特水电的工程师在英加二期的5号涡轮机组前。
卡莫阿铜业、SNEL、Stucky和福伊特水电的工程师在5号涡轮机组的管道 (直径8米) 前。
工作人员在5号涡轮机组下方的管道清除泥沙。
卡莫阿铜业改革部的人才发展计划正式启动
卡莫阿铜业创新的Kipaji 发展计划，专注于将刚果(金)人才培训成公司的未来领导者和行业先驱。获选的计划候选人将会通过严格的发展进程，配合个人化的发展方案和指导，加强他们的领导能力和技能优势。“Kipaji”在斯瓦希里语的意思是指才华或天赋，正好反映了卡莫阿铜业致力培养下一代行业领导者的愿景，为刚果(金)矿业打造美好的未来。
2021年10月16日，卡莫阿铜业董事长本·穆南加 (Ben Munanga)、首席执行官马克·法伦以及改革部举行了一次交流午餐，庆祝Kipaji发展计划正式启动。出席者包括第一批入选的30名Kipaji候选人以及自愿担任计划导师的卡莫阿铜业高管。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦祝贺Kipaji候选人。
基普什 (Kipushi) 的企业社会责任和可持续发展团队成员访问卡莫阿铜业作意见交流。 (从左至右) 卡莫阿铜业见习选冶员Altesse Kabange以及来自基普什的社会经济经理Nathalie Bono Kikaba和社区关系主任 Olivia Simamba。
园艺师 Irene Kipapa Bustani 在卡莫阿-卡库拉种植花卉。
卡莫阿-卡库拉新选厂办事处的园艺工作已完成。
公司的搬迁计划包括在Kaponda村兴建新的住所。卡莫阿铜业社区关系主管 Leon Tshikuta (右) 将新屋锁匙交给 Garspard Mukinda Bisanka (中)及其妻子 Ngwewa Kausa Elize。
卢阿拉巴省副省长Fifi Masuka Saini (中) 与旅游局代表 Abigael Kalombo (左) 和记者Splendide Tshot 于10月份到访卡莫阿-卡库拉项目。
艾芬豪矿业将于2021年11月15日举行投资者会议并公布 2021年第三季度财务报告
艾芬豪矿业将于2021年11月15日周一开市前公布2021年第三季度财务业绩。管理层将在同一天东部时间上午10:30主持电话会议和网络直播讨论。
电话会议和网络直播详情
加入音频网络直播的链接：webcast:http://services.choruscall.ca/links/ivanhoemines20211115.html
加入实时会议的电话号码：
加拿大/美国免费拨号号码: 1-800-319-4610
国际拨入号码: +1-604-638-5340
参会者应在预定开始时间前 5 至 10 分钟拨入电话，并要求加入艾芬豪矿业电话会议。
鼓励投资者和分析师在电话会议开始前通过电子邮件向 info@ivanhoemines.com 提交问题。在问答环节，管理层将在时间允许的情况下回复提问。
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铜业的项目负责人，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关于矿堆的其它技术数据。
本新闻稿所载的矿堆品位估算值是基于从地表矿堆供给选厂物料的大样以及从最近开展的垂直剖面刻槽取样。刻槽取样的样品大约每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) 关于艾芬豪的生产指导目标预计卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在2021年生产精矿的含铜金属量上调至90,000至95,000吨的陈述；(ii) 关于预计II期选厂将于2022年第二季度投产的陈述；(iii) 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；(iv) 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；(v) 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；(vi) 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；(vii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉I期选矿流程作出了一些额外的调整，使卡莫阿-卡库拉能够于2021年实现生产指导目标90,000 至 95,000 吨的较高铜产量的陈述；(viii) 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；(ix) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉III期扩建计划的陈述；(x) 关于区域输电网络中的三个关键位置，急需进行升级工程以大幅改善网络的稳定性，预计在未来两个月内完成，估计资本成本低于50万美元的陈述；以及 (xi) 关于卡莫阿铜业预计，现场冶炼厂的基础工程研究合同快将授予其首选的工程公司的陈述。
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；(xviii) 货物及设备的航运和运输不可预见的延误或停顿；(xix) 矿山进水量及其对采矿作业的潜在影响；以及 (xx) 电源供应的稳定性和可用性。
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年第二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。