Our portfolio of tier-one assets provides exposure to copper, platinum-group metals, nickel, zinc and other metals essential for the world’s transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy. Our stakeholders benefit from long-life projects with low costs, low-capital intensity and leading ESG programs.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, located in the Central African Copperbelt, is the world’s fastest-growing, highest-grade, and lowest-carbon emitting, major copper mine. Kamoa-Kakula commenced commercial production on July 1, 2021 and with the addition of the Phase 3 concentrator, which achieved commercial production in August 2024, the total copper production capacity is projected to surpass 600,000 tonnes per annum, establishing Kamoa-Kakula as the world's third-largest copper mine.
Record annual revenue recognized in 2023
Estimated annual copper production following the Phase 3 expansion
Tonnes of copper produced in 2023
Kamoa-Kakula's 2024 copper production guidance
Contained Copper - Probable Mineral Reserve
Kamoa-Kakula 2023 cash cost per lb. copper
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine — 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%) — is a very large, near-surface, flat-lying, stratiform copper deposit with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of the provincial capital of Lubumbashi.
Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper concentrates in May 2021 and began commercial production on July 1, 2021. On June 10, 2024 first concentrate production from the Phase 3 concentrator was achieved, months ahead of schedule. The Phase 3 concentrator expansion reached commercial production early in Q3, 2024 and is expected to boost production to over 600,000 tonnes of copper per annum, making Kamoa-Kakula the largest copper mine on the African continent.
Kamoa-Kakula’s 500,000-tonne-per-annum on-site, direct-to-blister copper smelter and the refurbishment of Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric facility are advancing on schedule. Construction completion of the smelter is expected by the end of 2024, and Turbine #5 by Q1 2025.
Kamoa-Kakula is 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, as confirmed by a 2020 independent audit performed by Hatch Ltd., of Mississauga, Canada. The Kakula Mine will have one of the most favourable environmental footprints of any tier-one copper mine worldwide. Along with a relatively small surface footprint, approximately 55% of the mine’s tailings will be pumped back into underground workings. Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex.
Phase 3 Concentrator
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 concentrator expansion completed ahead of schedule in May 2024, with first concentrate reported on June 10, 2024. Phase 3 will boost annualized production to approximately 600,000 tonnes copper.
2023 Pre Feasibility Study assess an increase in production capacity
Kamoa-Kakula's 2023 PFS evaluates a staged increase in production capacity Kamoa-Kakula from the current nominal throughput rate of 7.6 Mtpa up to a total of 19.2 Mtpa by 2030.
Mine life extension to 42 years
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 preliminary economic assessment (PEA) projects a nine-year mine life extension of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, in addition to the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 pre-feasibility study of 33 years. This case includes the addition of four new underground mines in the Kamoa area (called Kamoa 3, 4, 5 and 6) to maintain the overall production rate of up to 19.2 Mtpa.
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