By:Juniorminingnetwork

Ivanhoe Mines has achieved a copper production record of 40,347 tonnes from its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for August 2024. The Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators also set a daily production record of 2,096 tonnes on August 31.

The ramp-up of the Phase 3 concentrator is progressing well, with the facility nearing steady-state production. In August, the combined concentrators milled 1.1 million tonnes of ore, and the Phase 3 concentrator alone processed 350,000 tonnes, equating to an annual throughput of 4.2 million tonnes.

The concentrator’s daily milling rate is approaching the target of 5 million tonnes per year, with potential to exceed this benchmark. The Phase 3 recovery rate averaged 77% in August, with expectations to reach the nameplate target of 86% once the final stages of the fine-grinding mills are commissioned in the coming days.

The on-site backup power generation capacity was also increased to 135 MW after new generators were installed in July, ensuring full production capability for Phases 1 and 2 even without grid power.

Year-to-date, the combined production from Kamoa-Kakula is approximately 263,000 tonnes of copper, of which 14,000 tonnes was produced by the Phase 3 concentrator. With further improvements in processing throughput and copper recovery following the commissioning of the fine-grinding mills in the Phase 3 concentrator, Kamoa-Kakula expects to continue its recent run of production records and achieve its 2024 guidanceof between 440,000 and 490,000 tonnes of copper.