KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete are pleased to announce that the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produced a record 103,786 tonnes of copper in concentrate during the second quarter of 2023.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 concentrators are now operating at an increased throughput rate of 9.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) following the ahead-of-schedule completion of the debottlenecking program during the first quarter. The Phase 1 and 2 concentrators set a monthly production record of 35,856 tonnes of copper in concentrate for May and produced 33,104 tonnes of copper during the shorter month of June.
Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and 2 concentrators milled approximately 2.2 million tonnes of ore during the second quarter at an average feed grade of 5.2% copper. This included high-grade, run-of-mine ore from the Kakula Mine, supplemented with ore from the surface stockpiles to achieve throughput in excess of original design capacity. Strong copper recoveries continued for the quarter averaging 87.2%.
The second quarter brings Kamoa-Kakula’s year-to-date production to 197,389 tonnes of copper in concentrate, which includes the ramp-up of the debottlenecking initiatives since February 2023. The 2023 annual production guidance for Kamoa-Kakula is maintained at between 390,000 to 430,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.
Watch a July 2023 video featuring production and development highlights at Kamoa-Kakula: https://vimeo.com/842255861/f0c4323d4c
The record quarterly production at Kamoa-Kakula was achieved despite maintenance shutdowns in June and intermittent grid instability.
Since late Q4 2022, Kamoa Copper has been working alongside DRC’s state-owned power company, La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), to identify the causes of instability across the southern DRC’s grid infrastructure to assist with delivering long-lasting solutions. Kamoa Copper has identified a series of upgrades and has outlined a project plan to deliver the improvements. Mobilization of resources is underway, with vendor selection and equipment procurement having commenced.
Concurrently, Kamoa Copper’s engineering team are working towards insulating Kamoa-Kakula from future instability by expanding on-site backup generation capacity, as well as sourcing additional power imported from the Zambian grid.
Over the next 12-18 months, on-site backup-power generation capacity will increase via a phased roll-out. During the second quarter, 11 megawatts (MW) of new generator capacity was installed, bringing the total on-site backup-power generation capacity to approximately 48 MW. Delivery of a further 32 MW in backup generation capacity, sufficient to power Kamoa-Kakula’s entire Phase 1 and 2 operations in the event of grid disruptions, will commence later this year. Over 100 MW of further backup generation capacity has been ordered and is expected to be installed in 2024, in time for the completion of the Phase 3 concentrator and smelter that are currently under construction.
Discussions are advancing to secure up to 100 MW of additional power via the Zambian grid interconnector, the initial phase of which is expected to be ready in the third quarter.
All figures are on a 100% project basis and metal reported in concentrate is before refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.
Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland commented:
"Kamoa-Kakula, the rising star of the copper mining industry, continues to break production and milling records ... further cementing the Democratic Republic of Congo's position as an essential long-term contributor to the global copper supply chain. The project's impressive track record of timely and cost-effective development carries on with the Phase 3 expansion, including the construction of Africa's largest direct-to-blister flash smelter, which is well on schedule for first production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
"We are witnessing the rapid rise of the world's next major copper mining complex ... discovered by the talented team at Ivanhoe Mines and developed alongside our joint-venture partners Zijin Mining, and in partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo and its people. Kamoa-Kakula is set to become the fourth-largest copper producer in the world and the biggest copper mine in Africa, with an annual production of approximately 650,000 tonnes at industry-leading cash costs. It is a force to be reckoned with in terms of economic prosperity, consistently providing strong returns on investment and generating exceptional free cash flow in the near term. A new era has begun for the Central African Copperbelt, which will be a vital source of essential metals for future generations."
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants set a quarterly production record of 103,786 tonnes of copper in concentrate for Q2 2023 following the early completion of the debottlenecking program in the first quarter.
Members of Kamoa-Kakula’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) at Kakula North. The Phase 3 expansion projects continue their industry-leading safety record with 784 lost time injury (LTI) free days and 25,786,440 LTI free hours worked.
Kamoa-Kakula reports record quarterly production of 103,786 tonnes of copper during the second quarter of 2023, compared with 93,603 tonnes of copper in the first quarter.
Ivanhoe Mines announced the completion of Kamoa-Kakula's $50 million Phase 1 and Phase 2 debottlenecking program ahead of schedule on February 27, 2023. The debottlenecking program increased the nameplate ore processing capacity by 22% from 7.6 to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per annum, increasing production capacity up to approximately 450,000 tonnes per annum of copper in concentrate. For comparison, Kamoa-Kakula produced 333,497 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2022.
Following the completion of the debottlenecking, the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators continued to perform strongly in the second quarter, breaking several records including the quarterly production of 103,786 tonnes of copper in concentrate, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 11%. Also during the quarter, a weekly production record of 9,710 tonnes of copper in concentrate was achieved in late April. Shortly after quarter end, on July 2, 2023, a record daily milling rate of 29,968 dry metric tonnes was achieved, which is equivalent to an annual milling rate of 10.0 million tonnes per annum (after accounting for availability).
Figure 1: A chart of Kamoa-Kakula’s quarterly copper production since first production in May 2021. Record quarterly production was achieved in the second quarter despite maintenance shutdowns and grid instability.
Kamoa-Kakula milled a record 2.2 million tonnes of ore during the second quarter at an average grade of 5.2% copper. While the ongoing expansion of underground infrastructure at the Kakula Mine takes place, ore will be drawn as required from surface stockpiles to maximize copper production.
Kamoa-Kakula’s high- and medium-grade ore surface stockpiles totaled approximately 4.1 million tonnes at an estimated grade of 3.71% copper as of the end of June 2023. The operation mined 2.19 million tonnes of ore grading 5.13% copper in Q2 2023, which was comprised of 2.00 million tonnes grading 5.39% copper from the Kakula mine, including 0.68 million tonnes grading 6.97% copper from the mine’s high-grade centre.
Aerial view of the construction progress for the Phase 3, 5-million-tonne-per-annum concentrator. The new concentrator will be fed by ore from the Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 underground mines, which are accessed by the new box cut visible in the background (red arrow). The Phase 3 expansion is well on track for first production in Q4 2024.
Scaffold erection for the ball mill installation for Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 concentrator has commenced; overall project advancing on schedule at 52% complete
Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 expansion, consisting of two new underground mines known as Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 and a new, 5-million-tonne-per-annum concentrator plant, is well on track for first production in the fourth quarter of 2024. The expansion also includes the integration of Africa's largest direct-to-blister flash smelter, which will have a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of copper per annum and be constructed at Kakula, adjacent to the existing Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants.
Associated power and surface infrastructure constructed for Phase 3 will be designed to support future expansions of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. Underground mining activities are expected to commence at Kamoa 1 in 2023 and Kamoa 2 in 2025. Both new underground mines will use the same mechanized drift-and-fill mining methods employed at the current Kakula mine. In addition, the Phase 3 concentrator will use the same, upscaled process design as that used by the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators.
Civil construction on the Phase 3 ball mill foundations is now complete, with scaffold erection for the installation of the first of the two ball mills underway.
Construction of the Phase 3 concentrator is now approximately 16% complete and the overall project progress is 38% complete. Production is on schedule for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Detailed engineering design and procurement activities are mostly complete, with fabrication activities now 61% advanced. The rate of equipment deliveries to site is steadily increasing. A total of 137 of the forecasted 1,799 truck deliveries have already taken place and a further 224 trucks ladened with equipment are currently en route to site.
Civil works are nearing completion, with over 25,000 cubic metres of the total 30,000 cubic metres of concrete poured to date. The steel, mechanical, piping and plate work (SMPP) contract was also awarded during the quarter. Delivery of structural steel commenced during the quarter. Over 4,000 tonnes of the required 7,250 tonnes of structural steel have been shipped to site. Orders for approximately 50,000 metres of the total 73,000 metres of piping have also been placed.
The last lot of the 1,830-tonne primary and secondary ball mill equipment package has been shipped by CITIC Heavy Industries of Henan province, China and is expected to arrive at the Port of Durban, South Africa, imminently. Installation of the first of the two ball mills has commenced at the Phase 3 concentrator site, with scaffolding work well progressed. The first lots of the cone crushers, flotation cells, vibrating screens, concentrate filters, cyclone cluster, compressor and pump mechanical equipment packages are expected to be delivered to site imminently. Furthermore, the apron feeder was recently lifted into position inside the Phase 3 run-of-mine stockpile tunnel.
Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 concentrator surface crew lift a 28-tonne apron feeder into position on a trolley frame.
Steel erection of Kamoa-Kakula's direct-to-blister flash furnace and the electric slag cleaning furnace. The 500,000 tonnes-per-annum copper smelter, will be the largest in Africa and one of the largest in the world.
Construction of the smelter plant is now approximately 18% complete and the overall project progress is at 52%. The smelter is on target for starting production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
All terracing earthworks were completed in 2022 and civil construction work is well advanced, with all major foundations for equipment and buildings completed. Most of the structural steel and equipment have been ordered and are now being manufactured. The first lots of structural steel and mechanical equipment have been delivered to site. 654 truckloads of steel and equipment out of an estimated total of 4,000 have been delivered. The main mechanical and electrical construction contractors have been appointed and mobilization is underway. Mechanical erection has started for the direct-to-blister flash furnace and electric slag-cleaning furnace and gas cleaning system. Approximately, 2,000 construction workers are now working at the smelter site and this is expected to peak at 3,000 in December this year.
The Kamoa-Kakula smelter is designed to utilize direct-to-blister flash smelting technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland, and to meet the world-leading International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) emissions standards.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion includes the refurbishment of turbine #5 at the Inga 2 hydroelectric power station. The turbine will supply an additional 178 megawatts of clean hydroelectric power to the national grid, which is sufficient to meet the power requirements of the Phase 3 concentrator, the DBF flash smelter, as well as provide spare capacity for future expansions. The 99.7% pure blister anode copper produced from Kamoa-Kakula’s smelter is expected to be one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitters in the world per tonne of copper produced.
Construction of the direct-to-blister furnace gas cleaning system is well advanced.
The smelter will have a processing capacity of approximately 1.2 million tonnes per annum of dry concentrate feed and is designed to run on a blend of concentrate produced from the Kakula (Phase 1 and 2) and Kamoa (Phase 3 and future Phase 4) concentrators. Under the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 Integrated Development Plan, the smelter is projected to accommodate approximately 80% of Kamoa-Kakula’s total concentrate production. Kamoa-Kakula will also continue to toll-treat concentrates under a 10-year agreement with the Lualaba Copper Smelter (LCS), located approximately 50 kilometres from Kamoa-Kakula, near the town of Kolwezi. Deliveries to LCS are expected to account for approximately 150,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually.
As a by-product, the smelter will also produce in the region of 650,000 to 800,000 tonnes per year of high-strength sulphuric acid. There is strong demand for sulphuric acid in the DRC, as it is used to recover copper from oxide ores via the SX-EW (solvent extraction and electrowinning) process. The DRC market consumed approximately 6.0 million tonnes of acid in 2022. The vast majority of the consumed high-strength sulphuric acid is imported by regional consumers in the form of sulphur and burned in domestic acid plants. Spot prices for sulphuric acid in Kolwezi have recently reached as high as $600 per tonne.
Aerial view of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators in the foreground, overlaid with a rendered 3D rendering of the adjacent smelter site in the background.
Upon commencement of Phase 3 production, the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex will have a processing capacity in excess of 14 million tonnes per annum. In the first five years of Phase 3 (2025 to 2029), copper production from the combined Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is expected to average approximately 650,000 tonnes per annum, at a cash cost (C1) of $1.15/lb. This production rate will position the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex as the fourth-largest copper mining operation in the world.
Children at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in the community of Muvunda commemorating the end of the school year. Muvunda is the third local community in which Kamoa-Kakula has built an ECD centre since 2022.
Ivanhoe Mines to issue Q2 2023 financial results and host conference call for investors on August 3, 2023.
Ivanhoe Mines will report its Q2 2023 financial results, and a detailed update on its operations, before market open on August 3, 2023.
The company will hold an investor conference call to discuss the Q2 2023 financial results at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time / 7:30 a.m. Pacific time / 4:30 p.m. Johannesburg on the same day. The conference call will conclude with a question-and-answer (Q&A) session. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis.
To view the webcast, use the following: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3envh996
Analysts are invited to join by phone for the Q&A using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI41a67c7e4bc743e7975234c0ae560d1a
An audio webcast recording of the conference call, together with supporting presentation slides, will be available on Ivanhoe Mines’ website at www.ivanhoemines.com.
After issuance, the Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis will be available at www.ivanhoemines.com and www.sedar.com.
Qualified Persons
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex 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 Ivanhoe Mines’ Executive Vice President, 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 regarding the surface stockpiles 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 2023 Technical Report dated March 6, 2023, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd.; China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd.; DRA Global; Epoch Resources; Golder Associates Africa; Metso Outotec Oyj; Paterson and Cooke; SRK Consulting Ltd.; and The MSA Group.
The technical report includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex 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 expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the construction of the tier-one Platreef palladium-nickel-platinum-rhodium-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
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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 that the 2023 annual production guidance for Kamoa-Kakula is maintained at between 390,000 to 430,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate; (ii) statements that on-site backup-power generation capacity at Kamoa-Kakula will increase via a phased roll-out and that the delivery of a further 32 MW in back-up generation capacity, sufficient to power Kamoa-Kakula’s entire Phase 1 and 2 operations in the event of grid disruptions, will commence later this year; (iii) statements that a further 118 MW of back-up generation capacity has been ordered and is expected to be installed in 2024, in time for the completion of the Phase 3 concentrator and smelter that are currently under construction and scheduled for production for the fourth quarter of 2024; (iv) statements that discussions are advancing to secure up to 100 MW of additional power via the Zambian grid interconnector, the initial phase of which is expected to ready in the third quarter; (v) statements that Phase 3 expansion includes construction of Africa’s largest direct-to-blister flash smelter, which will be the largest in Africa and one of the largest in the world, and that is well on schedule for first production in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will have a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of copper per annum; (vi) statements that Kamoa-Kakula is set to become the fourth-largest copper producer in the world and the biggest copper mine in Africa, with an annual production of approximately 650,000 tonnes at industry-leading cash costs; (vii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula is a force to be reckoned with in terms of economic prosperity, consistently providing strong returns on investment and generating exceptional free cash flow in the near term; (viii) statements that while the ongoing expansion of underground infrastructure at the Kakula Mine takes place, ore will be drawn as required from surface stockpiles to maximize copper production; (ix) statements that Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 expansion, consisting of two new underground mines known as Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 and a new, 5-million-tonne-per-annum concentrator plant, is well on track for first production in the fourth quarter of 2024; (x) statements that associated power and surface infrastructure constructed for Phase 3 will be designed to support future expansions of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, that underground mining activities are expected to commence at Kamoa 1 in 2023 and Kamoa 2 in 2025, that both new underground mines will use the same mechanized drift-and-fill mining methods employed at the current Kakula mine and that the Phase 3 concentrator will use the same, upscaled process design as that used by the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators; (xi) statements that the secondary ball mill equipment package shipped by CITIC Heavy Industries is expected to arrive at the Port of Durban, South Africa, imminently; (xii) statements that the first lots of the cone crushers, flotation cells, vibrating screens, concentrate filters, cyclone cluster, compressor and pump mechanical equipment packages are expected to be delivered to site imminently; (xiii) statements that the number of construction workers working at the smelter site is expected to peak at 3,000 in December this year; (xiv) statements that the Kamoa-Kakula smelter is designed to utilize direct-to-blister flash smelting technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland, and to meet the world-leading IFC emissions standards; (xv) statements that Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion includes the refurbishment of turbine #5 at the Inga 2 hydroelectric power station, that the turbine will supply an additional 178 megawatts of clean hydroelectric power to the national grid, which is sufficient to meet the power requirements of the Phase 3 concentrator, the DBF flash smelter, as well as provide spare capacity for future expansions; (xvi) statements that the 99.7% pure blister anode copper produced from Kamoa-Kakula’s smelter is expected to be one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitters in the world per tonne of copper produced; (xvii) statements that the smelter will have a processing capacity of approximately 1.2 million tonnes per annum of dry concentrate feed and is designed to run on a blend of concentrate produced from the Kakula (Phase 1 and 2) and Kamoa (Phase 3 and future Phase 4) concentrators; (xviii) statements that Kamoa-Kakula will also continue to toll-treat concentrates under a 10-year agreement with the LCS, and that deliveries to LCS are expected to account for approximately 150,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually; (xix) statements that the smelter will also produce in the region of 650,000 to 800,000 tonnes per year of high-strength sulphuric acid and that there is strong demand for sulphuric acid in the DRC; (xx) statements that upon commencement of Phase 3 production, the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex will have a processing capacity in excess of 14 million tonnes per annum; and (xxi) statements that in the first five years of Phase 3 (2025 to 2029), copper production is expected to average approximately 650,000 tonnes per annum, at a cash cost (C1) of $1.15/lb and that this production rate will position the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex as the fourth-largest copper mining operation in the world.
All of the results of the 2023 Pre-Feasibility Study and 2023 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 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 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 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 because of the factors set forth below in the “Risk Factors” section in the company’s MD&A for the three months ending March 31, 2023, 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) 、联席董事长孙玉峰和总裁玛娜·克洛特 (Marna Cloete) 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2023年第二季度共生产精矿含铜10.4万吨。
卡莫阿-卡库拉I 期和 II 期选厂的扩产建设提前于第一季度完成后，项目综合稳态产能已提升至920万吨/年。I 期和 II 期选厂于5月份创下月度纪录，共生产精矿含铜3.6万吨， 6月份生产了3.3万吨铜。
卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期选厂第二季度共处理约220万吨矿石，平均入选品位5.2%，主要来自卡库拉矿山的高品位矿石，但由于选厂处理能力超过设计产能，需从地表矿堆向选厂额外供矿。第二季度的平均铜回收率保持强劲，达87.2%。
扩产建设于2023年2月提前竣工后，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿2023年迄今共生产精矿含铜19.7万吨。卡莫阿-卡库拉2023年精矿产铜39万至43万吨的生产指导目标保持不变。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目2023年7月份生产和建设进度的视频﹕https://vimeo.com/842255861/f0c4323d4c
尽管6月份曾多次停机检修维护并且出现供电不稳定的情况，卡莫阿-卡库拉仍能创下季度生产纪录。
自2022年第四季度起，卡莫阿铜业一直与刚果(金)国有电力公司 SNEL紧密合作，就刚果(金)南部电网出现的稳定性问题进行研究，找出供电问题的症结并协助制定长期解决方案。卡莫阿铜业已制定一系列的升级改造计划以改善供电稳定性，目前正调动资源，并已开展供应商招标及设备采购的工作。
此外，卡莫阿铜业的工程师正计划在矿山增加备用供电系统，确保卡莫阿-卡库拉项目未来的供电稳定性，同时正讨论引入赞比亚外部输电。
在未来12至18个月内将分阶段实施电力增容计划。2023年第二季度已增容11兆瓦，矿山的备用电力共计48兆瓦。预计今年晚些时候将增加额外32兆瓦的备用电力，即使在电力中断的情况下，也能够满足卡莫阿-卡库拉项目 I 期和 II 期的总电力需求 。目前已订购增容100兆瓦的备用电力系统，预计于2024年完成装机，以配合建设中的 III 期选厂和冶炼厂投产。
同时正讨论引入赞比亚外部输电，增加高达100兆瓦电力，预计于2023年第三季度完成首阶段工作。
*上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。报告的精矿含铜未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。
艾芬豪矿业创始人兼执行联席董事长罗伯特·弗里兰德评论道：“卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿这颗矿业新星，持续创下全新的生产和矿石处理纪录，进一步巩固了刚果(金)对于全球铜供应链做出长期重要贡献的地位。III 期扩建继续保持一贯的高速和高效优势，扩建计划包括建设非洲最大的一步炼铜冶炼厂，按计划将于 2024 年第四季度实现投产。”
“我们有幸亲眼见证全球下一个大型铜矿的迅速崛起。卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿由艾芬豪矿业的人才团队发现，是我们与合作伙伴紫金矿业携手开发，以及与刚果(金)人民合作打造的顶级项目，将会成为全球第四、非洲最大的铜矿山，年产铜约65 万吨，且现金成本远低于行业平均水平，有助于带动经济繁荣发展，提供强劲且稳定投资回报，并且在短期内产生可观的自由现金流。目前，中非铜矿带正进入新世代，将是未来生产关键金属的重要基地。”
卡莫阿-卡库拉I 期和 II 期选厂的扩产建设提前于第一季度完成后，于2023年第二季度创下全新季度纪录，共生产精矿含铜10.4万吨。
卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的应急团队在卡库拉北区。III 期扩建项目继续保持领先行业的安全纪录，已实现了784天及25,786,440个小时的零失时工伤纪录。
卡莫阿-卡库拉刷新季度纪录，2023年第二季度共生产10.4万吨铜，第一季度则生产9.4万吨铜
2023年2月27日，艾芬豪矿业公布卡莫阿-卡库拉 I期和 II 期选厂的扩产建设在5,000万美元预算内比原计划提前竣工。扩产建设将 I 期和 II 期选厂的综合设计产能从760万吨/年提升22%至920万吨/年，铜产能提高至约45万吨/年。卡莫阿-卡库拉于2022年共生产精矿含铜33.3万吨。
扩产建设竣工后，卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂于2023年第二季度持续表现强劲，并刷新多项纪录，包括本季度破纪录生产10.4万吨铜，同比增长11%，4月底还创下单周生产精矿含铜9,710吨的纪录。第三季度刚开始，7月2日创造单日处理矿石3万吨的新纪录，相当于1,000万吨矿石的年化处理能力 (考虑了设备利用率)。
图1：卡莫阿-卡库拉自2021年5月投产以来的季度铜产量。尽管受到停机维修保养和电网不稳的影响，第二季度仍然创下全新生产纪录。
2023年第二季度，卡莫阿-卡库拉破纪录共处理220万吨矿石，平均入选品位5.2%。卡库拉矿山正进行地下基础设施扩建，因此将从地表矿堆向选厂供矿以满足产量最大化。
截至2023年6月底，卡莫阿-卡库拉地表堆存约410万吨高品位和中品位矿石，平均铜品位约3.71%。2023年第二季度共采出219万吨矿石，铜品位5.13%；包括在卡库拉矿山采出的200万吨矿石，铜品位5.39% ，其中在矿床高品位中心采出的68万吨矿石，铜品位高达6.97%。
III 期500万吨/年选厂施工进度鸟瞰图，将从卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿 2 区的地下采区向新选厂供矿，采区将使用下图背景的新斜坡道入口 (红色箭头位置) 进场。III 期扩建进展顺利，将按计于2024年第四季度实现投产。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期选厂已为球磨机安装开始搭建脚手架；项目按计划推进，目前已完成52%
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建包括卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区的新采区，以及一座500万吨/年的新选厂，将按计划于2024年第四季度投产。扩建计划还包括在卡库拉矿山建设一座非洲最大型的一步炼铜冶炼厂，每年可生产50万吨粗铜和阳极铜，毗邻 I 期和 II 期选厂。
III 期电力和地表基础设施的设计工作正在进行中，以配合卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的后续扩建计划。卡莫阿1区将于2023年底开始采矿，其后卡莫阿2区将于2025年开展，将采用与卡库拉矿山同样的机械化进路充填采矿法。此外，III 期选厂的工艺设计与 I 期和 II 期选厂相似，但产能更大。
III 期球磨机地基的土建工程现已竣工，并已为第一台球磨机 (共两台) 的安装工作搭建脚手架。
III 期选厂的施工已完成约16%，项目整体已完成38%，按计划将于2024年第四季度实现投产。
详细工程设计和采购工作即将完成，设备加工制造已完成61%，正逐步加快设备交付。预计共需1,799 辆卡车来运输所有设备，其中137辆已经运至现场，另有 224 辆装载设备的卡车正在运送途中。
土建工程即将完成，迄今已浇注超过2.5万立方米的地基混凝土 (共3万立方米)。2023年第二季度已签订钢结构、机械、管道和钣金 (SMPP) 合同，且钢结构已开始运抵现场。建设所需7,250吨钢结构，其中约4,000吨已交付现场，且5万米长管道 (共计7.3万米) 的采购订单已经完成。
第一台和第二台球磨机最后一批重载1,830吨的设备已从中国河南的中信重工发运，预计很快会抵达南非德班港。III 期选厂现场已开始安装第一台球磨机 (共两台) ，且脚手架搭建工作进展顺利。首批设备包括圆锥破碎机、浮选设施、振动筛、精矿压滤机、旋流器、压缩机和水泵等，预计即将运抵现场，且最近已将板式给矿机吊装到 III 期矿堆。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期选厂的地表工作人员将一台28吨的板式给矿机吊装到台车边框内。
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。年产50万吨/年的铜冶炼厂，将会成为非洲最大及全球最大的铜冶炼厂之一。
冶炼厂的施工已完成约18%，整体项目工程已完成52%，将按计划于2024年第四季度实现投产。
冶炼厂的清表和土方工程已于2022年完工，土建工程进展顺利，所有设备和厂房的桩基工程都已完成。大部分钢结构和设备的采购订单已经完成，目前正在制造中。第一批钢结构和机械设备已运抵现场。654辆装载钢材和设备的卡车 (预计共4,000辆卡车) 已抵达现场。项目已签订机电施工合同，承包商的工作团队已开始进驻营地。一步炼铜冶炼厂的闪速炉和电炉以及尾气净化系统正进行机械安装。
目前约有2,000名建筑工人在冶炼厂施工，预计今年12月将达到最高人数3,000名。
卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂采用芬兰美卓奥图泰公司的技术，按照国际金融公司 (IFC) 制订的排放标准建造。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建还将包括英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造。涡轮机组升级后，将为国家电网增容178兆瓦清洁水电，可以满足 III 期选厂及一步炼铜冶炼厂的电力需求，并为日后扩建提供备用电能。卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂生产的99.7%阳极铜预计将成为全球单位铜碳排放最低的产品之一。
闪速炉尾气净化设施进展顺利。
冶炼厂的精矿处理能力达120万吨/年，将处理I 期和 II期来自卡库拉和III期及后续IV期来自卡莫阿选厂的精矿。卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研显示，冶炼厂将处理卡莫阿-卡库拉约80%的精矿。卡莫阿-卡库拉根据与卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订的为期十年的协议，继续将部分精矿送往距离卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿约50公里、靠近科卢韦齐镇的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂进行处理加工，预计每年处理约15万吨铜精矿。
此外，冶炼厂每年将生产65万至80万吨的浓硫酸副产品。刚果(金)对硫酸有强烈需求，用于 SX-EW (溶剂萃取法和电解) 法处理氧化铜矿石。刚果(金)市场于2022年共消耗约600万吨酸，其中大部分通过进口硫磺来制造硫酸。在科卢韦齐，硫酸的现货价格最近飙升至600美元/吨。
I 期和 II 期选厂的鸟瞰图 (前方)，背景为毗邻冶炼厂的三维示意图。
III期投产后，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的总矿石处理量将超过1,400万吨/年。III期投产后的前5年 (2025-2029) ，预计卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿平均年产65万吨铜，C1现金成本1.15美元/磅，这将使卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿成为全球第四大铜矿山。
Muvunda 社区幼儿发展中心的儿童庆祝完成今个学年。Muvunda是卡莫阿-卡库拉项目自 2022 年起建立第三个幼儿发展中心的当地社区。
艾芬豪矿业将于2023年8月3日公布第二季度财务业绩及召开投资者电话会议
艾芬豪矿业将于2023年8月3日开市前公布2023年第二季度的财务业绩及最新运营信息。
艾芬豪矿业将于8月3日北美东部时间 10:30 am / 太平洋时间7:30 am / 约翰内斯堡时间4:30pm 召开投资者电话会议，讨论2023年第二季度的财务业绩。电话会议将包括答问环节，被邀媒体将在听众列席。
观看网络直播的链接：https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3envh996
分析师请使用以下链接参加答问环节： https://register.vevent.com/register/BI41a67c7e4bc743e7975234c0ae560d1a
电话会议的网络广播录音及相关演示材料将在艾芬豪矿业网站上提供： www.ivanhoemines.com.
发布后，财务报表和管理层的讨论和分析将在www.ivanhoemines.com和www.sedar.com上提供。
合资格人
本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目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。由于阿莫斯先生是艾芬豪矿业的项目执行副总裁，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地表矿堆的技术数据。
艾芬豪已经为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的独立技术报告，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﹕
- 2023年3月6日发布的2023年卡莫阿-卡库拉综合开发方案技术报告，由OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、DRA Global、Epoch Resources、Golder Associates Africa、Metso Outotec Oyj、Paterson and Cooke、SRK Consulting Ltd.以及The MSA Group编制。
技术报告包括本新闻稿中引用的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿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(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2023年的年度精矿产铜39万至43万吨的生产指导目标保持不变的陈述； (ii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉将进行分阶段的电力增容计划，预计今年晚些时候将增容额外32兆瓦的备用电力，即使在电力中断的情况下，都能够满足卡莫阿-卡库拉项目 I 期和 II 期总电力需求的陈述；(iii) 关于已订购增容118兆瓦的备用电力系统，预计于2024年完成装机，以配合建设中的 III 期选厂和冶炼厂投产的陈述；(iv) 关于正讨论引入赞比亚外部输电增容高达100兆瓦电力，预计于2023年第三季度完成首阶段工作的陈述； (v) 关于III 期扩建计划包括建设非洲最大的一步炼铜冶炼厂，将成为非洲最大及全球最大的铜冶炼厂之一，将按计划于 2024 年第四季度实现投产，每年可生产50万吨铜的陈述；(vi) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿将会成为全球第四大铜生产商及非洲最大的铜矿山，年产铜约达 65 万吨，且现金成本远低于行业水平的陈述；(vii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿有助于带动经济繁荣发展，提供强劲的稳定投资回报，并且在短期内产生可观的自由现金流的陈述；(viii) 关于卡库拉矿山正进行地下基础设施扩建，因此将从地表矿堆向选厂供矿以满足产量最大化的陈述；(ix) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建包括卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区的新采区，以及一座500万吨/年的新选厂，将按计划于2024年第四季度投产的陈述；(x) 关于 III 期电力和地表基础设施的设计工作正在进行中，以配合卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的后续扩建计划；卡莫阿1区将于2023年底开始采矿，其后卡莫阿2区将于2025年开展，将采用与卡库拉矿山同样的机械化进路充填采矿法，以及III 期选厂的工艺设计与 I 期和 II 期选厂相似，但产能更大的陈述；(xi) 关于第二台球磨机的设备已从中国河南的中信重工发运，预计快将抵达南非德班港的陈述；(xii) 关于首批设备包括圆锥破碎机、浮选设施、振动筛、精矿压滤机、旋流器、压缩机和泵机等，预计即将运抵现场的陈述；(xiii) 关于预计今年12月在冶炼厂进行施工的建筑工人将达到最高人数3,000名的陈述；(xiv) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂采用芬兰美卓奥图泰公司的一步炼铜冶炼技术，并按照国际金融公司 (IFC) 制订的排放标准建造的陈述；(xv) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建还将包括英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造；涡轮机组升级后，将为国家电网增容178兆瓦清洁水电，可以满足 III 期选厂及一步炼铜冶炼厂的电力需求，并为日后扩建提供备用电能的陈述；(xvi) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂生产的99.7%阳极铜预计将成为全球单位铜碳排放最低产品之一的陈述；(xvii) 关于冶炼厂的精矿处理能力达1,200万吨/年，将处理I 期和 II期来自卡库拉和III期及后续IV期来自卡莫阿选厂的精矿的陈述；(xviii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉根据与卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订的为期十年的协议，继续将部分精矿送往卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂进行处理加工，预计每年处理约15万吨铜精矿的陈述；(xix) 关于冶炼厂每年将生产65万至80万吨的浓硫酸副产品，且刚果(金)对硫酸有强烈需求的陈述；(xx) 关于III期投产后，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的总矿石处理量将超过1,400万吨/年的陈述；以及 (xxi) 关于III期投产后的前5年 (2025-2029) ，预计卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿平均年产65万吨铜，C1现金成本1.15美元/磅，这将使卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿成为全球第四大铜矿山的陈述。
2023预可行性研究和2023初步经济评价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、估计矿山服务年限、现金流预测、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) 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) 项目范围或设计更变；以及 (xvii) 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。