KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced that Kamoa Copper has approved a de-bottlenecking plan for Kamoa-Kakula to increase the combined design processing capacity of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants by approximately 21%, to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year (Mtpa), up from 7.6 Mtpa, once steady-state production is achieved at both concentrators.
The de-bottlenecking initiative is expected to increase Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 annual copper output to more than 450,000 tonnes by Q2 2023 ─ positioning Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s fourth largest copper producer.
Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO, said: “Kamoa-Kakula is blessed with an incredible endowment of high-grade copper resources. Given that our underground mine development and ore production are both progressing well ahead of schedule, the plant expansion will allow the operations team to process significantly more high-grade copper ore directly from the Kakula Mine in the years ahead.
“Our orebody has a huge advantage in allowing us to adapt our mining cut-off to mine larger tonnages very efficiently, while maintaining grades above a desired level. The expansion also provides the team with the flexibility to utilize our surface stockpiles, for which the mining is already paid for, that totalled more than 4.4 million tonnes grading 4.61% copper at the end of January.”
Construction of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant almost is complete with early-stage commissioning activities now underway. Hot commissioning of the concentrator with first ore and initial copper concentrate production are both on track for April 2022.
Engineering and early works for the Phase 3 expansion, including a new box cut and twin declines to access new mining areas, is progressing quickly. A third, significantly larger concentrator is being designed and is expected to commissioned in Q4 2024. An updated pre-feasibility study, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022. Also underway are early works on a direct-to-blister flash smelter at Kamoa-Kakula that will incorporate leading-edge technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Finland, and have a nameplate capacity of 500,000 tonnes a year of approximately 99%-pure blister copper.
The Phase 1 concentrator currently is running at a throughput that is in excess of its 3.8-Mtpa design capacity by more than 22%, with 112% of design throughput achieved in January. Copper recoveries of above 87% also are consistently being achieved that are in excess of design recovery of 85.6%, depending on feed grade, with January’s recoveries approximately 2.7% higher.
Despite the Phase 1 concentrator incurring significant downtime for critical tie ins and changes required for the commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator, the copper in concentrate produced in January totalled 18,824 tonnes ─ almost the same as December’s record production of 18,853 tonnes. January’s impressive operating performance of the Phase 1 concentrator is continuing in February. On February 7th, the concentrator set a new daily ore throughput record with13,498 tonnes milled.
Figure 1: Kamoa-Kakula’s base-case, pro-forma copper production (after de-bottlenecking is complete) relative to the world’s projected top 10 producing mines in 2022 by paid copper production.
Source: Company filings, Wood Mackenzie (February 2022). Note: Kamoa-Kakula production of 435 kt paid copper production, or 450 kt copper in concentrate, is based on expected Phase 1 and 2 steady state production, following de-bottlenecking of both Phase 1 and 2 concentrators.
Steve Amos, Ivanhoe Mines’ Head of Projects, DRC, commented: “After successfully operating the Phase 1 concentrator for more than eight months, we’ve identified a number of relatively minor modifications to the concentrator that should increase ore throughput from the current design of 475 tonnes per hour to 580 tonnes per hour. These modifications include increasing the diameter of a number of pipes, replacing a number of motors and pumps with larger ones and installing additionalflotation, concentrate-thickening, concentrate-filtration and tailings-disposal capacity.
“We expect the de-bottlenecking project to cost approximately US$50 million and take approximately 12 months to complete.These modifications will allow the team to consistently operate the concentrator plant at the increased throughput without compromising plant availability, copper recovery or copper concentrate grade. Engineering design is under way and procurement of long-lead items already has started. We expect to be in a position to increase Kamoa-Kakula’s combined processing capacity to 9.2 million tonnes of ore a year by Q2 2023.”
As announced earlier this year, the 2022 production guidance for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate. The figures are on a 100%-project basis and copper reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.
The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, with the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants circled in red.
Another view of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, with the Kakula North ore stockpiles in front and the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators in the rear.
Commissioning team observing the delivery of first ore to Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2 high-pressure-grinding-rolls (HPGR) stockpile on February 18th.
Assembly of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2 flotation cells now is complete and early-stage commissioning activities are underway.
Mill operator Rachel Museka, collecting pulp-density samples at Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator.
Gracia Mbaka Indundu, Senior Operator, at the first two concentrate filter presses, which were supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland.
Priscille Mandandj, Rachel Museka, Esther Kabiz and Flora Kaj Somp, celebrating the completion of construction of the Phase 2 ball mills.
Excavating crew at Kamoa-Kakula’s new box cut for the twin declines that will provide access to the Phase 3 mining areas. (L-R) Katshaba Gracien, Milto Bikos, Nkulu Mwepu, Maseo Kabey, Mandew Jean, and Mutomb Jasue.
Excavation work is advancing quickly at Kamoa-Kakula’s new box cut for the twin declines that will provide access to the Phase 3 mining areas.
About the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex
Kamoa-Kakula is the world’s fastest growing major copper mine. Kamoa-Kakula began operations in May 2021 and produced approximately 106,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021. Kamoa-Kakula’s 2022 production guidance is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.
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
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, (i) statements regarding plans to expand processing capacity of Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators by 21%, to a combined total of 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year; (ii) statements regarding the copper production from the first Kamoa Copper’s two phases projected to exceed 450,000 tonnes per year by Q2 2023, positioning Kamoa Copper as the world’s fourth largest copper producer; (iii) statements regarding hot commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator with first ore and initial copper concentrate production are both on track for April 2022; (iv) statements regarding the 2022 production guidance for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate; (v) statements regarding expectations that the de-bottlenecking project will cost approximately US$52 million and take approximately 12 months to complete; (vi) statements regarding the Phase 3 expansion is expected to be commissioned in Q4 2024; (vii) statements regarding an updated pre-feasibility study for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022; (viii) 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; (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; and (x) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced.
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 — 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，卡莫阿铜业已批准一项技改计划，旨在扩大卡莫阿-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) I期和II期选厂的设计产能。达到稳产后，总设计产能将从760万吨/年提升约21%至920万吨/年。
技改方案实施后，预计到2023年第二季度，卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期的年产量将达到45万吨铜以上，使卡莫阿-卡库拉成为全球第四大铜矿山。
卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (Mark Farren)表示﹕"卡莫阿-卡库拉蕴藏着无与伦比的高品位铜资源。地下开拓和采矿工程正超计划推进，选厂扩产将使运营团队直接处理来自卡库拉矿山的高品位矿石，大大提升选矿产能。矿体的巨大优势，使我们能够高效地调整采矿边界品位以增加采矿量，同时确保品位高于理想水平。选厂扩产带来的灵活性，使得我们能够充分利用地表矿堆。截至1月底，地表矿堆量累计已超过440万吨，铜品位4.61%。"
卡莫阿-卡库拉II期380万吨/年选厂的建设工程基本完成，正在推进前期试车工作。选厂按计划将于2022年4月开展首批矿石的带料试车以及首批铜精矿的生产。
III期扩建的工程设计和前期工作进展迅速，其中包括兴建新采区进场通道的井口和双斜坡道。第三座选厂规模更为庞大，目前正进行设计工作，预计于2024年第四季度实现投产。更新版预可行性研究将涵盖III期扩建计划，预计于2022年第三季度发布。卡莫阿-卡库拉直接粗铜冶炼厂的前期工作正进行中，将融合芬兰美卓奥图泰 (Metso Outotec) 公司提供的尖端技术，设计产能达每年50万吨99%粗铜。
I期选厂的产能相比其380万吨/年设计产能已高出22%以上，并于1月份达到设计产能的 112%。铜回收率达87%以上，超过85.6%的设计指标，1月份的回收率相比设计指标高出约2.7%，随入选品位有所浮动。
尽管为II期投产所需进行的关键连接和调整导致I期选厂较长时间停机，但1月份生产精矿含铜金属仍达到18,824吨，几乎赶上12月份18,853吨的最高记录。I期选厂于2月份持续表现理想，并于2月7日刷新记录，录得单日入选矿量13,498吨。
图 1：卡莫阿-卡库拉铜产量的基础预测 (技改后)，与2022年全球十大生产矿山预测 (按可售铜产量排名) 比较
信息来源﹕公司文件、伍德曼肯兹 (2022年2月)。注：卡莫阿-卡库拉可售铜产量43.5万吨或精矿含铜金属45万吨的产量预测，乃基于I期和II期选厂技改后，预计I期和II期实现稳态产能而作出的估算。
艾芬豪矿业刚果(金)项目负责人史蒂夫·阿莫斯 (Steve Amos)评论说："I期选厂已成功运行了8个多月，我们发现通过一些相对微小的调整，可使选厂的矿石处理量加大，从当前的设计生产率每小时475吨提升至每小时580吨。这些调整包括扩大一些管道的直径、替换较大型的电机和水泵，以及扩大浮选机、精矿浓密机、过滤机和尾矿处理系统的产能。"
"我们预期，技改项目的成本约为5,000万美元，为期约12个月。这些调整使我们能够以较高的产能持续选厂作业，而不会对选厂的可用性、铜回收率或铜精矿品位造成影响。工程设计正在进行中，并已开展长周期设备的采购工作。我们预期，到2023年第二季度，卡莫阿-卡库拉的联合矿石处理能力将会提升至920万吨/年。"
正如之前披露，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿2022年的生产指导目标为290,000至340,000吨铜金属。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。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目，红圈位置为I期和II期选厂。
前方是卡库拉北部矿堆，后方是 I 期和 II 期选厂。
2月18日调试团队检查第一批运至 II 期高压辊磨机的矿石。
II 期浮选槽组装现已完成，正在进行调试。
磨机操作员Rachel Museka在卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期选厂收集矿浆浓度样本 。
高级操作员Gracia Mbaka Indundu在美卓奥图泰公司生产的精矿压滤机前。
Priscille Mandandj、Rachel Museka、Esther Kabiz和Flora Kaj Somp庆祝II期球磨机安装完成。
掘进队伍在卡莫阿-卡库拉开展新斜坡道井口开槽，将用于III期采区的进场通道。 (从左至右) Katshaba Gracien、Milto Bikos、Nkulu Mwepu、Maseo Kabey、Mandew Jean和Mutomb Jasue。
通往 III 期矿区的双斜坡道入口的挖掘工作正在迅速推进。
关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目
卡莫阿-卡库拉是世界上增长最快的大型铜矿。卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿于2021年5月实现投产，于2021年共生产精矿含铜金属量约106,000吨。卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿2022年的精矿含铜金属生产指导目标为290,000至340,000吨。
根据独立研究机构排名，一旦产能扩大至1,900万吨/年，卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球第二大铜矿山，最高年产铜80多万吨。
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。
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主要项目：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、久负盛名的基普什 (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、不明朗因素和其他因素，可能导致本公司的实际业绩、表现或成就、其项目或行业的业绩，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﹕(i) 关于计划将I期和II期选厂的产能扩大21%至合共每年920吨矿石的陈述；(ii) 关于II期选厂将按计划于2022年4月开展首批矿石的带料试车工作及生产首批铜精矿的陈述；(iii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿2022年生产精矿含金属量的指导目标为290,000吨至340,000吨的陈述；(iv) 关于预计去瓶劲方案的成本约5,200万美元，为期12个月的陈述；(v) 关于III期扩建预计于2024年第四季度投产的陈述；(vi) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的预可行性研究更新版将涵盖III期扩建计划，预计于2022年第三季度发表的陈述；(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；以及 (ix) 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。
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。