KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced today that the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo achieved a monthly production record of 35,856 tonnes of copper in concentrate during May.
Copper production during April was 34,826 tonnes of copper in concentrate, bringing quarter-to-date production to 70,682 tonnes.
A new daily milling record of 29,366 tonnes of ore was also achieved by the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators. This is equivalent to an annual milling rate of 9.8 million tonnes per annum (after accounting for availability). This record far exceeds the increased milling capacity of 9.2 million tonnes per annum following the debottlenecking program of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators, which was completed in February 2023.
Average copper recoveries for the month were 87%, above the Phase 1 and 2 concentrator nameplate recovery rates.
Construction activities for the Phase 3 expansion, including the largest copper smelter in Africa, with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of 99+%-pure copper anodes, are advancing on schedule for first production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Watch a June 2023 video of operations and construction activities at Kamoa-Kakula: https://vimeo.com/833031454/fb6ea4e192
Concrete foundations for the two ball mills of the Phase 3 concentrator on the left, with foundations for the flotation cells on the right. The first batch of ball mill foundation steel is expected at site later this month. The first ball mill, supplied by CITIC Heavy Industries of Luoyang, China, also is expected to be delivered later this month.
Concrete foundations for the Phase 3 concentrator tailings thickener. Over 60% of concrete has been poured to date and approximately 6,000 tonnes of the required 7,100 tonnes of structural steel have been fabricated, 50% of which has been shipped to site.
Steel erection of Kamoa-Kakula's direct-to-blister flash furnace and the electric slag cleaning furnace. Overall smelter construction is now approximately 50% complete. Fabrication of the anode furnaces, ball mill and SAG mill, also manufactured by CITIC Heavy Industries, is complete with shipping expected imminently.
Construction of new on-site accommodation. There are approximately 14,000 employees and contractors at site; approximately 97% of Kamoa’s employees are Congolese.
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the construction of the tier-one Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold project in South Africa; and the restart of the historic ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.
Ivanhoe Mines also is exploring for new copper discoveries across its circa 2,400km2 of 90-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Foreland, located adjacent to, or in close proximity to, the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC.
Information contact
Investors
Vancouver: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034
London: Tommy Horton +44 7866 913 207
Media
Tanya Todd +1.604.331.9834
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this news 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 using 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 news release.
Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula's monthly copper production record being equivalent to annual production of approximately 430,000 tonnes; (ii) statements that Kamoa-Kakula's new daily mill throughput record is equivalent to an annual rate of approximately 9.8 million tonnes; (iii) statements that Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 expansion and smelter, which is the largest copper smelter in Africa with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes, are advancing on schedule for first production in Q4 2024; (iv) statements that the first batch of ball mill foundation steel and the first ball mill for Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 are expected to be delivered to site later this month; and (v) statements that Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 anode furnaces, ball mill and SAG mill are expected to be shipped imminently.
Furthermore, concerning this specific forward-looking information concerning the operation and development of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, 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 related commodities; (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) recoveries, mining rates and grade; (xviii) political factors; (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 such results will be achieved. Many 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 above and under the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and its Annual Information Form, and elsewhere in this news 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 news 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 news 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 news release.
The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and its 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) 及孙玉峰今日欣然宣布，位于刚果民主共和国 (以下简称 “刚果 (金)”) 的卡莫阿-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) 铜矿于5月份破纪录生产精矿含铜 3.6万吨。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿于4月份生产3.5万吨铜，2023年本季度至今共生产精矿含铜7.1万吨。
I 期和 II 期选厂单日处理2.9万吨矿石，创下全新纪录，相当于980万吨铜的年化产能 (考虑了设备利用率)，远高于 I 期和 II 期选厂2023年2月扩产后的920万吨/年的处理能力。
月度平均回收率达 87%，超越 I 期和 II 期选厂回收率的设计指标。
III 期扩建工程进展顺利 ，包括建设非洲最大的冶炼厂，每年可生产50万吨含铜超过99%的粗铜及阳极铜，将按计划于2024年第四季度实现投产。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目2023年6月份运营和施工进展的视频﹕
https://vimeo.com/833031454/fb6ea4e192
III 期选厂两台球磨机的混凝土地基 (左) 及浮选设施的地基 (右)。第一批的球磨机地基钢材预计于本月末运抵现场。由位于中国洛阳的中信重工生产制造的第一台球磨机也将于本月末交付。
III 期选厂尾矿浓密机的地基建设，迄今已完成60% 以上的混凝土浇注。建设所需7,100吨钢结构其中约6,000吨已完成加工生产，其中约3,000吨已交付现场。
卡莫阿-卡库拉一步炼铜冶炼厂的闪速炉和电炉正进行钢结构安装。冶炼厂的整体建设工程已完成约50%。中信重工生产的阳极炉、球磨机和半自磨机已制造完成，即将发往项目现场。
矿山现场新营地的建设工程。目前，约有14,000名员工和承包商驻扎矿山，卡莫阿约97%的员工为刚果(金)居民。
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(金)的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的扩建工程、位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 顶级钯-铑-铂-镍-铜-金矿的开拓工程；以及同样位于刚果(金)、久负盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 超高品位锌-铜-锗-银矿的重建工程。
同时，艾芬豪矿业正在刚果(金)境内、毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的西部前沿 (Western Foreland) 探矿权内寻找新的铜矿资源。西部前沿探矿权占地2,400平方公里，由艾芬豪矿业全资拥有及持有90%权益。
联系方式
投资者
温哥华﹕马修·基维尔 (Matthew Keevil)，电话﹕+1.604.558.1034
伦敦﹕托米·霍顿 (Tommy Horton) ，电话﹕+44 7866 913 207
媒体
坦尼娅·托德 (Tanya Todd) ，电话﹕+1.604.331.9834
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、不确定性和其他因素，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下列事项的时间点和结果﹕(i) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉的月度铜产量相当于年产约43万吨铜的陈述；(ii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉处理矿石量创下全新单日纪录，相当于980万吨铜的年化产能的陈述；(iii) 关于III 期扩建的建设工程进展顺利 (其中包括非洲最大的冶炼厂，每年可生产50万吨铜)，将按计划于2024年第四季度实现投产的陈述；(iv) 关于III 期的第一批球磨机地基钢材及第一台球磨机将于本月晚些时候运抵现场的陈述；以及 (v) 关于III 期的阳极炉、球磨机和半自磨机预计快将发货的陈述。
另外，对于与卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿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) 有关商品价格；(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) 项目范围或设计更变；(xvii) 回收率、开采率和品位；(xviii) 政治因素；(xix) 矿山进水情况及对于开采作业的潜在影响；以及 (xx) 电源的稳定性和供应。
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，包括但不限于公司截至2023年3月31日止三个月的《管理层讨论与分析》和当前年度信息表中 “风险因素” 部分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；以及勘查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查、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。
基于公司截至2023年3月31日止三个月的《管理层讨论与分析》和当前年度信息表中 “风险因素” 及其他部分所指的因素，公司的实际业绩可能与这些前瞻性陈述所预计的业绩产生重大差异。