Ivanhoe Mines Accelerates Makoko Copper Development in DRC
Ivanhoe Mines Accelerates Makoko Copper Development as Western Forelands Exploration Expands in DRC
Ivanhoe Mines is accelerating exploration and development activities at the Makoko copper discovery within its Western Forelands project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as continued drilling expands the scale and potential of the mineralised district.
The Western Forelands project covers approximately 2,393 square kilometres in Lualaba Province, adjacent to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex.
The area is considered highly prospective for large, high-grade copper deposits.
Recent drilling has extended copper mineralisation farther west from the original Makoko discovery, leading to the identification and expansion of the Makoko West area.
Mineralisation has now been traced over more than 13 kilometres of strike, with the system remaining open in several directions.
The Makoko district has already emerged as one of the most significant copper discoveries in the region.
Earlier resource estimates identified substantial quantities of high-grade copper, while subsequent drilling has continued to expand the known mineralised footprint.
Ivanhoe is conducting an extensive exploration programme across the Western Forelands to define additional resources and improve its understanding of the Makoko, Makoko West and Kitoko discoveries.
The company has committed a substantial exploration budget for 2026, with drilling focused primarily on step-out and infill drilling at Makoko.
Additional reverse-circulation drilling is also targeting regional prospects elsewhere within the Western Forelands licence area.
The proximity of Makoko to Kamoa-Kakula is particularly significant. Mineralisation has been identified within a relatively short distance of existing Kamoa-Kakula infrastructure, raising the potential for future operational synergies if the Western Forelands discoveries advance to development.
Ivanhoe has described the Western Forelands as a major emerging copper district, with the licence package several times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula complex.
The company’s continued exploration success comes as global demand for copper rises, driven by electrification, renewable energy, power infrastructure and the expansion of data centres and other energy-intensive technologies.
For the DRC, the development of the Western Forelands could further strengthen the country’s position as one of the world’s most important copper-producing regions.
For Ivanhoe, expanding Makoko and identifying additional deposits could create a new long-term growth platform alongside its established Kamoa-Kakula operations.
