Ivanhoe Mines completes construction of Kipushi concentrator ahead of schedule
July 2, 2024
Ivanhoe Mines completes construction of Kipushi concentrator
ahead of schedule
■
First ore to Kipushi concentrator achieved on May 31; first
concentrate produced on June 14
■
Kipushi sets 2024 production guidance at between 100,000 and
140,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate
■
Kipushi zinc production capacity to average 278,000 tonnes
per annum over first five years, making Kipushi the fourth-
largest zinc mine globally
■
Basic engineering underway to increase processing capacity
of concentrator by 20% to 960,000 tonnes per annum
■
Off-take agreements signed with CITIC Metal and Trafigura,
plus $170 million in financing facilities agreed
■
Kipushi reconfirmed as the world’s lowest carbon-emission
intensive zinc mine on a Scope 1 and 2 basis
KIPUSHI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN;
OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete
announce today the completion of construction and the restart of the historic
ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), 100 years after it first operated, and 31 years since
it was placed on care and maintenance. First feed of ore into the new
concentrator was achieved on May 31, 2024, with first concentrate subsequently
produced on June 14, 2024.
Off-take agreements for Kipushi’s high-grade zinc concentrate have been signed
with CITIC Metal (HK) Limited of Hong Kong and Trafigura Asia Trading of
Singapore. Further off-take agreements are expected to be signed in the coming
months. In addition, financing facilities totaling $170 million provided by CITIC
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Metal, Trafigura and First Bank DRC of Kinshasa, DRC have been arranged, with
$50 million drawn to date.
Kipushi Corporation SA (KICO) is 68% owned by Kipushi Holding, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines, with the remaining 32% of KICO owned by
Gécamines. As per the terms of the Joint-Venture Agreement between Kipushi
Holding, KICO, and Gécamines, as announced on January 16, 2024, Gécamines
will acquire an increasing percentage of the share capital and voting rights in
KICO over time, subject to completing conditions precedent.
Watch a video showing the completion of the Kipushi concentrator
and production of first concentrate:
https://vimeo.com/960461099/60827dd468?share=copy
Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland
commented:
"Returning the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium-gallium mine to
production alongside our DRC state-owned joint-venture partner Gécamines
marks a century after Kipushi’s first operations. The rebirth of the mine is a major
and state-of-the-art achievement for our operations team, the people of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the local community in Kipushi Town. We
commend and congratulate everyone involved, especially the hardworking
Congolese workforce, for their exceptional contributions towards this example of
industry-leading execution ... with the construction and first concentrate
milestones delivered substantially ahead of schedule. Kipushi will be one of the
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world's leading producers of high-grade, low-emissions zinc and associated
metals. The mine will follow Kamoa-Kakula's example of being a leading employer
and social driver for the region where we operate while maintaining Ivanhoe's
focus on strong community relations and sustainability.
"The Kipushi mine is a significant example of the growing importance of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo as a provider of high-quality, vital strategic
minerals for global markets. The mine also demonstrates the tier-one quality of
the ore body and workforce that make the Central African Copperbelt the best
place on our planet to build world-leading mining operations. We are very proud
to witness the rebirth of this legendary mining operation for the first time in three
decades. Kipushi joins Kamoa-Kakula as a major addition to Ivanhoe's rapidly
growing green metals business. We celebrate this significant step on our
aggressive journey to become the world's next great, diversified major mining
company."
Gécamines’ Chairman, Guy-Robert Lukama Nkunzi commented:
“The resumption of operations at the Kipushi Mine, after more than three decades
of inactivity, is a source of great pride for Gécamines and of renewed joy among
the Province of Haut-Katanga’s population. This outcome is yet another
indication of Gécamines’ efforts for the revival of mining activity and community
development in Haut-Katanga.
“It is not only high zinc grades that make Kipushi an extraordinary mine. Whilst at
this stage only the Big Zinc deposit has been certified, the mine shows great
potential for other metals that are critical to meet today’s global industrial needs.
Through the renewed KICO project, achieved in cooperation with our partner
Ivanhoe Mines, whose unwavering commitment and expert skills led to the site’s
revival, Gécamines will be in a position to play a greater role than in the past.
Concurrently with the mine’s reconstruction, our partnership has been
significantly restructured in terms of the project’s governance. As a result,
Gécamines’ shareholding in the project has been reinforced, which gives us
increased power to influence key decisions, the possibility of acquiring KICO’s
products to ensure local processing and, above all, the prospect of becoming a
majority shareholder again after the Big Zinc is depleted.
“All of these achievements are in line with the wish of His Excellency the
President of the Republic, Mr Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, that the
Democratic Republic of Congo enters into balanced mining partnerships that will
make our country a key player in the revolutionary transition to green energy.”
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(L-R) Ivano Manini, General Manager, KICO; Olivier Binyingo, Executive
Vice President, DRC, Ivanhoe Mines and Chairman, KICO; and, Gaetan
Luabeya, Deputy General Manager, KICO holding first concentrate from the
Kipushi Concentrator on June 14, 2024.
The Kipushi ball mill rotating with the first feed of ore during the night of
May 31, 2024, with the historic, headframes (P1, P2 and P3) in the
background. The restart of the Kipushi mine has taken place 100 years
after it was originally opened, in 1924.
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2024 Production Guidance for the Kipushi Mine
Kipushi’s 2024 production guidance is based on several assumptions and
estimates as of July 2, 2024, including among other things, assumptions about
the timing of ramp-up of the new 800,000-tonne-per-annum Kipushi concentrator.
Guidance involves estimates of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially.
Kipushi Mine 2024 Guidance
Contained zinc in concentrate (tonnes) 100,000 - 140,000
All figures are on a 100%-project basis and metal reported in concentrate is before treatment losses or
payability deductions associated with smelter terms.
Ivanhoe Mines will provide 2024 guidance ranges for C1 cash cost (C1) per pound
of payable zinc once ramp-up to steady-state production has been achieved.
As per the 2022 Kipushi Feasibility study, released on February 14, 2022, over the
first five years annualized production is expected to average 278,000 tonnes of
zinc in concentrate, positioning Kipushi as the world’s fourth-largest zinc mine
and the largest on the African continent. See Figure 1.
Figure 1. World’s top 10 zinc mines estimated for 2025, by paid zinc
production per annum (‘000 tonnes) with head grade (% zinc).
Source: Wood Mackenzie, 2024, Ivanhoe Mines. Production and grade assumptions for Kipushi are the
first five-year average as stated in the 2022 Feasibility Study.
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Zn Head Grade %
Paid Zn Production Kt
Paid Zn Production
Head Grade
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Dry commissioning of the new 800,000-tonne-per-annum Kipushi concentrator
commenced in early May, with first ore from the surface run-of-mine (ROM)
stockpiles fed through the ball mill during the evening of May 31, 2024. The first
batch of concentrate production was achieved on June 14, 2024. Ramp-up to
steady-state production is expected in the third quarter.
Basic engineering underway to increase processing capacity of
Kipushi concentrator by 20% to 960,000 tonnes per annum
Basic engineering of a de-bottlenecking program is underway, targeting a 20%
increase in processing capacity of the newly constructed Kipushi concentrator.
The debottlenecking program is expected to increase the processing capacity to
960,000 tonnes per annum. Since mining commenced in late 2023, there is
sufficient capacity to increase mining and hoisting rates to support an upsized
concentrator. The de-bottlenecking program is expected to take approximately
nine months, based on the ready availability of equipment.
Run-of-mine stockpiles to support ramp-up to steady-state
production, with mining rates to increase throughout H2 2024
As of June 30, 2024, a total of approximately 336,000 tonnes of ore at an average
grade of 23.4% zinc was stored in surface ROM stockpiles adjacent to the Kipushi
concentrator. This includes approximately 150,000 tonnes of “high-grade” ore at
an average grade of over 30% zinc. The stockpiled ore, which contains nearly
80,000 tonnes of zinc that is currently trading at approximately $3,000 per tonne,
is now being used for the ongoing hot commissioning and ramp-up of the Kipushi
concentrator.
Underground mining rates are expected to significantly increase throughout the
second half of the year to match the steady-state processing rate of the Kipushi
concentrator. Year-to-date underground mining rates have averaged just over
20,000 tonnes per month, with rates expected to increase to 75,000 tonnes per
month, at an average grade of over 40% zinc, by year-end.
Off-take agreements for Kipushi concentrate signed, plus $170 million
in financing facilities secured
Ivanhoe Mines has recently established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Ivanhoe
Marketing (Pty) Ltd (“Ivanhoe Marketing”), to manage the in-land logistics across
the African continent. Ivanhoe Marketing will be responsible for arranging the
transportation of zinc concentrate from mine gate to the point of delivery. Initially,
it is expected that approximately 50% of Kipushi’s concentrate will be delivered to
Europe for smelting on a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) basis, exported via the
port of Walvis Bay. The remaining 50% will be a Delivered at Place (DAP) to the
port of Durban.
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Ivanhoe Marketing has entered into off-take agreements with CITIC and Trafigura
for the sale of Kipushi concentrate. The Kipushi concentrate is expected to
contain approximately 55% zinc, with low levels of impurities. To date, off-take
agreements for approximately two-thirds of Kipushi’s zinc concentrates over a
five-year term have been agreed. The off-take agreements contain standard,
international commercial terms, including payables and treatment charges based
on the zinc industry’s annual benchmark. The 2024 annual treatment charge
benchmark is currently $165 per tonne of concentrate. Given an international
shortage of clean zinc concentrates to feed the world’s zinc smelters, the current
spot rate for zinc treatment charges is significantly lower than the $165 per tonne
benchmark rate. Off-take agreements for the remaining concentrate are expected
to be placed in the coming months.
In addition to the off-take agreements, Trafigura and CITIC Metal will each provide
a loan facility to KICO for $60 million over the term of the off-take contract, at a
rate of interest SOFR, plus 6%. A bank facility has also been signed with
domestic lender FirstBank DRC for $50 million at SOFR plus 4.5%.
Kipushi is the world’s lowest carbon-emitting major zinc mine on a
Scope 1 and 2 basis
2023 Scope 1 & 2 zinc GHG emissions intensity curve, highlighting Kipushi
and the top 10 largest zinc mining operations in 2023.
Notes: Kipushi and industry peer Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data are estimates by Skarn Associates. Estimates
include all direct and indirect emissions to produce contained zinc from ore to mine gate. The horizontal width of each
bar represents the quantity of each operation’s 2023 zinc production in ‘000 tonnes. 2025 Kipushi production is
estimated to be 278,000 tonnes of payable zinc in concentrate, based on the 2022 feasibility study. 2025 zinc
production is not forward guidance. It is estimated that operations will emit a total of 5,047 equivalent tonnes of CO2,
thereby producing 0.019 equivalent tonnes of CO2 per tonne of zinc produced. Chart sources: Skarn Associates,
Ivanhoe Mines.
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The updated Greenhouse Gas emissions assessment recently completed by
Skarn Associates confirms that Kipushi will be the lowest carbon emitter per unit
of zinc production in the world.
The fact that Kipushi will be the lowest greenhouse gas emitter per tonne of zinc
produced is partially due to the ultra-high-grade Big Zinc orebody, which has an
average head grade of over 36% zinc over the first five years of operation. The
Kipushi head grade is more than 6.5 times higher than the average head grade of
the top 20 zinc mining operations in 2023. A high head grade means significantly
less rock is mined, hauled and milled for the same tonne of zinc produced. The
total peak power required by the mining and milling operation is only 23
megawatts (MW).
The low carbon emissions intensity is also a function of the DRC grid being
among the world’s cleanest, with 99.5% of grid power generated from
hydroelectricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
On a Scope 1 and 2 basis (reported from ore to mine gate), Kipushi’s greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions intensity for 2025 is expected to be 0.019 equivalent tonnes
of carbon dioxide per tonne of contained zinc produced (t CO2-e / t Zn). This
comfortably ranks Kipushi near the bottom of the Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions
curve, as shown in Figure 1. For comparison, the 2022 Scope 1 and 2 GHG
emissions intensity for Kamoa-Kakula, which is the lowest carbon-intensive
major copper mine globally, was 0.16 equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide per
tonne of contained copper produced (t CO2-e / t Cu).
Industry-leading health and safety performance achieved during the
construction of Kipushi
During the 3.3 million man-hours worked on the construction of the Kipushi
concentrator, not a single lost time injury (LTI) was recorded. Therefore, the lost
time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) for the concentrator during construction was
zero. The recently completed Phase 3 concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula also
completed construction with an LTIFR of zero, a rare industry achievement.
Zinc’s role is vital in supporting the energy transition
Zinc’s primary use is for protecting steel against corrosion, which accounts for
over 60% of the metal’s worldwide use. In 2023, according to Worldsteel data,
global crude steel production was approximately 19 billion tonnes. Zinc’s use in
the energy transition is primarily in the generation and transmission
infrastructure, as well as in the emerging battery storage technology.
Zinc is vital in the protection of solar panel fixtures and wind turbine structures
from extreme weather and in preventing rust. Each 100 MWh solar installation is
estimated to use approximately 230 tonnes of zinc and each 100 MWh offshore
wind turbine installation is estimated to require approximately 40 tonnes of zinc.