Kamoa-Kakula Smelter Launched After Traditional Ceremony Marks Start of Operations
Kamoa-Kakula Copper Smelter Begins Operations After Inaugural Heating Ceremony in DRC
The Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter, promoted as the largest and most environmentally advanced on the African continent, officially began heating on November 21, 2025. Ivanhoe Mines, the operator of the copper complex in Lualaba province, confirmed that the first feed of concentrate was expected before the end of the year.
The launch was marked by a traditional ceremony led by Chief Musokantanda Sabuni Kafweku, symbolizing the connection between ancestral customs and the industrial ambition of the project.
A flame from a traditional lwanzo lwa mikuba furnace was carried to the modern smelter to ignite the inaugural torch.
Robert Friedland, founder and co-executive chair of Ivanhoe Mines, said the ritual represented an important milestone. “We witnessed a significant step for Kamoa-Kakula and the entire Congolese mining sector. We are producing clean and sustainable copper in the DRC,” he stated.
Kamoa-Kakula CEO Annebel Oosthuizen commended the dedication of the operational teams: “The fire lit today will change the future—for our company, our community, and our country.”
The new 500,000-tonne-per-year smelter was expected to substantially reduce exports of raw concentrate and increase the value added within the DRC. At the time of initial heating, the furnace had reached 800°C and was continuing to heat for several days while critical systems—including the boiler, steam circuit, concentrate dryer, electrodes, and acid plant—were finalized.
Before commissioning, the complex held an inventory of approximately 37,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. This stockpile was projected to fall to about 17,000 tonnes by 2026, once the smelter reached full operating capacity.
Electricity supply for the smelter—an essential requirement for an installation of this scale—was secured through a 60 MW UPS system providing two hours of instant backup, along with 180 MW of diesel generators installed on-site.
With the commissioning of the smelter, Kamoa-Kakula further strengthened its position as a global mega-copper operation. The facility was designed to prioritize processing concentrates from all three phases of the mining complex, reducing reliance on the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
The increase in processing capacity came as Ivanhoe Mines prepared to announce its copper production forecasts for 2026 and 2027 on December 2—guidance that was highly anticipated by the market.
The technical communication relating to the project was reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, Executive Vice President of Ivanhoe Mines and a qualified person under NI 43-101 standards.
