Kipushi Mine Resumes Operations as a Global Leader in Zinc Production

After a 30-year hiatus, the Kipushi mine in Haut-Katanga, located 30 kilometers from Lubumbashi, has officially resumed operations.

Known as the world’s highest-grade zinc mine, it now boasts a state-of-the-art concentrator capable of processing 800,000 tonnes of ore annually. This facility, completed in May 2024, achieved its first zinc concentrate production in June 2024.

The mine, which ceased operations in 1993, is targeting 2024 production levels of 50,000 to 70,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate. Its modern concentrator employs advanced grinding and flotation technologies, achieving a recovery rate of 96% and an average concentrate grade of 55% zinc.

Ownership of the Kipushi mine is shared between Ivanhoe Mines, holding a 68% stake through Kipushi Holding, and the Congolese state-owned Gécamines, which owns 32%.

The revised partnership agreement outlines a phased increase in Gécamines’ stake to 38% in the short term, with a long-term goal of reaching 80%, allowing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assert greater control over this strategic resource.

In addition to its zinc reserves, Kipushi contains significant deposits of other valuable metals, including copper, germanium, lead, and silver.

Between 1924 and 1993, the mine produced approximately 60 million tonnes of ore, with average grades of 11% zinc and 7% copper, as well as notable quantities of lead and germanium.

Powered by renewable hydropower, Kipushi is among the world’s lowest-emitting zinc mines in terms of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions.

Situated on the Central African Copper Belt, the mine is seen as a flagship project for diversifying and modernizing the Congolese mining sector.

It is expected to bolster the local economy, enhance the nation’s technical expertise, and position the DRC as a critical player in global mining.