Ivanhoe Mines implements extraordinary measures to safeguard its people and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on its mine development operations Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project significantly enhances its on-site medical team and facilities, under the supervision
April 2, 2020
Ivanhoe Mines implements extraordinary measures to safeguard
its people and mitigate the impact of COVID-19
on its mine development operations
Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project significantly enhances its on-site
medical team and facilities, under the supervision
of a world-leading infectious disease specialist
Operational continuity at the Kakula Mine
as excellent progress on underground development continues
KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN;
OTCQX:IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced today
that, given the fast-evolving global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is
providing further details on the rigorous protective measures it has implemented to protect
the health and well-being of its employees, contractors and local communities while
ensuring business continuity at the Kamoa-Kakula Project.
In response to government-imposed travel restrictions and emergency protocols being
introduced, worldwide strict quarantine and lock-down procedures have been implemented
at all three of the company’s projects ─ Kamoa-Kakula, Platreef and Kipushi ─ to prevent
the virus from spreading to the minesites. To date, no COVID-19 cases have been
discovered.
At Kamoa-Kakula, the minesite has been locked down and all key personnel is on site,
except for the supply of food and critical equipment under strict delivery protocols. A total
of 881 employees, who were previously based in surrounding communities and Kolwezi,
have been moved to permanent minesite accommodation, and up to 250 additional
employees will be moved to the minesite once accommodations have been expanded and
subject to appropriate and stringent quarantine protocols. At present, a total of 3,532
employees and contractors are based at the minesite, which ensures operational continuity
and minimizes the impact on the development schedule.
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Platreef has temporarily suspended its shaft-sinking operations until at least April 16th in
compliance with the 21-day, country-wide lock down imposed by the South African
Government effective March 26th. The project is maintaining a small workforce to conduct
care and maintenance activities in order to have the operation ready for when project
development resumes.
Kipushi also has temporarily suspended operations in order to reduce the risk to the
workforce and local communities. The project is maintaining a small workforce to conduct
care and maintenance activities, and to maintain pumping operations.
Following the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organization, while drawing on the
experience of its China-based partners – CITIC Metal and Zijin Mining – and well before
the situation was declared a pandemic, the company appointed a task team from senior
management with overall responsibility for COVID-19 response planning.
The team is led by Dr. Nicolette Du Plessis, a specialist in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
and a Professor at the University of Pretoria, and includes specialist doctors, paramedics,
nurses, as well as counsel from several external, world-leading epidemiologists. Dr. Du
Plessis is president of the Southern African Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and
president-elect of the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa.
The task team, together with its 16-strong and expanding, on site Kamoa-Kakula Project
medical response team and its medical service provider, Medical Support Solutions of the
United Kingdom, has access to some of the best advice from medical experts from around
the globe and has implemented key procedures across the business to ensure minimal
disruption to its operations.
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Dr. Nicolette Du Plessis, a specialist in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and a
Professor at the University of Pretoria, is leading Ivanhoe Mines’ COVID -19
response team.
At the Kamoa-Kakula Project, the company has implemented strict isolation procedures in
the event of higher risk personnel or potential COVID-19 cases. Ten intensive care units,
each equipped with a ventilator, and 20 high-care units will be available to treat potential
patients, in addition to a quarantine facility for up to 60 potential patients.
The company already has procured abundant critical protective supplies for its minesite
medical professionals, including surgical gloves and N95 face masks. In addition,
Ivanhoe’s largest shareholder, CITIC Metal, has assisted with the procurement of a very
substantial number of coronavirus diagnostic test kits. The company will distribute the test
kits to its projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa to enforce
its health and safety protocols during the pandemic and to ensure business continuity at
the Kamoa-Kakula Project.
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In addition, the company is working closely with its host governments, which have acted
swiftly and decisively in legislating measures to curb the spread of the disease. Together
with the DRC and South African Ministries of Health, the company is sourcing a number of
early-stage treatments that could potentially prevent a country-wide outbreak of the
COVID-19 virus.
Robert Friedland said, “We are taking action to support our employees and communities as
the COVID-19 situation evolves. Our aim is to keep our operations running safely, and we
are monitoring the situation closely.”
“The nature of our mine development projects is such that certain work cannot be done
remotely, so our focus is on reducing the risk of the virus spreading to our projects.
Operational continuity is critical for jobs, the communities around our operations, and the
local economies. We will continue to adapt our response as this situation evolves, with our
primary focus being the health and safety of our people.”
“The Ivanhoe team is comprised of an extraordinary group of people. I have absolute
confidence that working together we will meet these challenges and emerge stronger and
more resilient than ever,” Mr. Friedland added.
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Members of Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site medical team in place to quickly identify
and treat any potential COVID-19 cases and prevent the spread to other
personnel.
Front row, L-R: Salva Mujinga Tshimanga (nurse); Augustin Kabedi Mujinga
(nurse); Papy Wedialumbele Lumasa (nurse); Asmara Ally (ALS paramedic);
Dr. De Delvareine Kabwayi Buyamba (medical doctor).
Second row, L-R: Tresor Kasongo Dibwe (nurse); Paulin Mwanza Umbanga
(nurse); Greg Hillen (ALS paramedic); Timothee Bwana Ngoie ( nurse);
Christian Masengo Ngoy (nurse); Adellard Muyambo Kazenga (nurse); Prince
Hlongwane (ALS paramedic); Dr. Patrick Kasongo Ngoyi (health manager);
and Alain Sambwe Masengo (nurse).
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Dr. Delvareine Kabwayi Buyamba practicing medical response procedures
with a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Kakula hospital.
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Kakula Copper Mine continues to make excellent underground mine
development progress
Underground development at the Kakula Copper Mine continues to advance at a rapid
pace. Approximately 12 kilometres of underground development now is complete, which is
roughly 3.4 kilometres ahead of plan. In March, the mining team set another new monthly
development record of more than 1,350 metres − more than 330 metres ahead of plan for
the month. A second owner’s crew, comprised of local Congolese miners who were fully
trained on site, has begun underground development work as the project transitions
towards an all-owner mining team.
Two of the underground mining crews operating semi-autonomous double-
boom jumbo drills at the Kakula Mine.
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Construction crew extending the wall at Kakula’s main underground water
storage dam.
Construction on the underground rock-handling system and conveyor belt is progressing,
and it is expected to be operational this month. The reaming of Ventilation Shaft 2 at
Kakula South has been completed, providing additional ventilation to the southern portion
of the Kakula Mine.
The high-volume conveyor system that will transport broken ore from
underground up the decline to the pre-production ore stockpiles.