Ivanhoé will produce its first copper concentrate at the Kipushi mine in the third quarter of 2024
In an interview with Mining Review Africa, President Marna Cloete of Ivanhoé Mines says that Ivanhoé’s Kipushi mine redevelopment project in the DRC is expected to produce its first copper concentrate in the third quarter of next year.
According to Ivanhoé’s president Marna Cloete, “construction of the mill is now also well advanced.”
Indeed, the Kipushi project is based on the high-grade zinc-copper mine which is located in the central African copper belt and which produces approximately 60 million tonnes for a zinc content of 11%, and 7 % in copper between 1924 and 1993.
In addition to copper and zinc production, the mine produced 12,673 tons of lead and about 278 tons of germanium between 1956 and 1978.
The mine has been run on the basis of a care and maintenance contract since 1993.
It should be noted that the Kipushi mine project is located in the DRC in the province of Haut-Katanga and to the southeast of the Kamoa discovery. It is located near the town of Kipushi and about 30 kilometers south-west of Lubumbashi, the provincial capital.
Ivanhoé acquired a 68% stake in the capital of the Kipushi project in November 2011, the remaining 32% is held by Gécamines, the public mining company of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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 Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ivanhoe Mines is also exploring for new copper discoveries across its circa 2,400km2 of 90-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Foreland, which are located adjacent to the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
