Ivanhoe Mines, a prominent Canadian mining firm, has announced significant achievements at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In October, the combined output from the Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators set a remarkable monthly record of 41,800 tonnes of copper concentrate, alongside a record milling rate of 1.2 million tonnes.
As of October 31, total copper production for the year reached an impressive 345,042 tonnes. Notably, on October 12, the concentrators milled 50,253 tonnes of ore in a single day, yielding 1,720 tonnes of copper. This translates to an annualized milling rate of 16.9 million tonnes and a production capacity nearing 580,000 tonnes, factoring in equipment availability.
In another highlight, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators achieved a record output by processing 31,463 tonnes of ore within a 24-hour period, marking an annualized milling capacity of 10.6 million tonnes. This figure exceeds the adjusted capacity of 9.2 million tonnes by 15%.
Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s founder and executive co-chair, remarked, “Kamoa-Kakula’s output is gaining momentum as we approach year-end. Exceeding the annualized production target of 500,000 tonnes in October positions us among the top global copper producers. Our achievement reflects our ability to deliver on schedule and signals the start of Ivanhoe’s growth journey.”
The Phase 3 concentrator also demonstrated robust performance, processing 448,478 tonnes of ore in October, a 30% increase from the previous month, achieving an annualized milling rate of five million tonnes. On October 21, the concentrator set a new 24-hour record, milling 19,198 tonnes of ore, which corresponds to an annualized rate of 6.5 million tonnes, surpassing its design capacity by 30%.
In October, the copper output from the Phase 3 concentrator totaled 10,533 tonnes of concentrate, reflecting a 42% increase from the prior month.
Ivanhoe Mines has also completed the construction of an underground ore conveyor system connecting the Kamoa 1 and 2 mines to the Phase 3 concentrator. This development allows direct feeding of mined ore into the concentrator, reducing reliance on surface stockpiles utilized during the initial ramp-up phase.
Going forward, the Phase 3 concentrator will primarily process run-of-mine (RoM) ore, with surface stockpiles available as needed. Recovery rates averaged 83% in October, and the company anticipates reaching the nameplate recovery target of 86% as RoM ore processing increases.
Furthermore, the construction of the direct-to-blister copper smelter, located near the concentrators, is over 94% complete and expected to be operational by year-end. The smelter will process concentrates from all three phases and includes a waste heat recovery system capable of generating 8 MW of electricity to support operations.
As a by-product, the smelter is projected to produce up to 700,000 tonnes of high-strength sulphuric acid annually, which will be sold to mining operations across the DRC Copperbelt. With its ongoing expansions and advancements, Ivanhoe Mines is poised for continued growth in the copper sector.
