Kamoa-Kakula Phase 2 expansion now 70% complete, on track for early start-up in Q2 2022
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December 9, 2021
Kamoa-Kakula Phase 2 expansion now 70% complete, on track
for early start-up in Q2 2022
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Record copper production in November tops 18,270 tonnes,
bringing year-to-date production to more than 87,000 tonnes as at
November 30, 2021
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Earthworks commenced for a new box cut to access Phase 3
mining areas; Phase 3 concentrator targeted by end of 2024
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Engineering for Kamoa Copper’s direct-to-blister smelter
underway; long-lead items for smelter to be ordered in Q2 2022
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Mining crews deliver a record 548,000 tonnes of ore grading
5.46% copper in November, including 362,000 tonnes grading
6.60% copper from the centre of the Kakula Mine
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Record mining production in November increases surface
stockpiles to 3.92 million tonnes grading 4.64% copper,
containing more than 181,000 tonnes of copper
KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX:
IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced that Kamoa-
Kakula’s Phase 2, 3.8 million-tonne-per-annum (Mtpa) concentrator plant now is
approximately 70% complete and is well on track to begin operations in Q2 2022.
As the Phase 1, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant is operating at steady-state design
capacity, further production updates will be provided only on a quarterly basis.
Ivanhoe’s 2021 production guidance for contained copper in concentrate produced from
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator is 92,500 to 100,000 tonnes. The higher guidance
numbers are reinforced by an excellent production performance in November, which
saw a record 18,270 tonnes of copper in concentrate produced, bringing year-to-date
output to more than 87,000 tonnes as at November 30, 2021. The figures are on a 100%-
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project basis and metal reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions
associated with smelter terms.
Watch the latest video showcasing the expansion work underway
at the Kamoa Copper Complex:
https://vimeo.com/654809393/8ca99b13e3
Kamoa-Kakula’s 2021 copper production to the end of the year, as well as guidance for
2022 copper production, cost of sales and cash costs, including the start of Phase 2
operations, will be provided in January 2022.
357,000 tonnes of ore were milled in November at an average feed grade of 6.18%
copper, exceeding the monthly design run rate of 316,667 tonnes by more than 12%.
Copper flotation recoveries averaged 85.4% in November. The Phase 1, steady-state
design copper recovery is approximately 86%, depending on ore feed grade.
Chart 1: Cumulative tonnes of copper produced May 2021 to November 30, 2021.
Construction of the second 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant (Phase 2) continues to progress
ahead of plan. Engineering, procurement and fabrication activities all are effectively
complete. The main construction focus remains on the completion of structural steel
erection and installation of platework, equipment and piping (SMPP). Electrical, control
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and instrumentation (EC&I) installation is advancing well, with numerous areas already
handed over from the SMPP contractors to the EC&I contractors.
Both of the Phase 2 ball mills have been lifted into position and the girth gears installed.
Installation of the lube system and pinion drive currently is underway. The final piece of
major equipment for the Phase 2 concentrator plant, the high pressure grinding rolls
(HPGR), has been lifted into position.
Electrical cable installation is advancing according to schedule. All the structural steel
and platework, as well as the bulk of the piping, has been delivered to site. The last
deliveries of piping are expected to arrive by mid-December. More than 580 truckloads
of Phase 2 construction equipment and materials already have been delivered to site.
During November, the project’s construction team achieved 14.0 million fatality-free
hours worked. This milestone underscores the strict safety culture of the Kamoa
Copper construction team and contractors.
During its routine mass testing for new arrivals at the mine site, Kamoa Copper has
recently identified a small number of COVID-19 infections. Any positive cases were
quickly identified, isolated and treated, with cross contamination kept to a minimum,
and there is no impact on operations. Kamoa also continues to focus intensively on
rolling out vaccinations across the workforce and local communities. Maintaining this
high standard of risk management remains a daily focus to prevent future cases.
Dr. Albert Odimboleko holding vials of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines used to
vaccinate Kamoa Copper’s employees, contractors and local citizens.
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Kamoa-Kakula’s adjacent Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 (on the left) and Phase 2 ball mills.
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Fitters Ren Xaioqi (left) and Lui Guang Jin cleaning the girth gear on the Phase 2
ball mills.
Installing the base plate for Phase 2’s high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR).
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The Phase 2 HPGR being lifted into place.
One of two Phase 2 HPGR motors being lifted into place.
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Crews lifting a section of piping into place for the Phase 2 concentrator.
Installation of new piping for the Phase 2 flotation cells is progressing quickly.
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Laetitia Kyungu, a safety officer with T3 Projects DRC, at the Phase 2 plant. T3
Projects, a leading electrical contractor, has been providing electrical, control
and instrumentation installation services for Kamoa-Kakula’s first two phases.
Mining crews produce a record 548,000 tonnes of ore in November as
mining ramps up in advance of the Phase 2 concentrator start-up
A total of 548,000 tonnes grading 5.46% copper was mined during the period from
October 21 to November 20, including 362,000 tonnes grading 6.60% copper from the
Kakula Mine’s high-grade centre and 63,000 tonnes grading 3.61% copper from the
Kansoko Mine.
Mark Farren, CEO of Kamoa Copper, commented: “548,000 tonnes of ore mined is a
major increase compared to our previous monthly record of 409,000 tonnes mined. We
expect to see continued growth in monthly mine production as we introduce additional
mining crews to fill the second concentrator. We remain firmly on track to start the
Phase 2 concentrator production in Q2 2022.”
Production was boosted by the arrival of a new mining equipment supplied by Sandvik
of Stockholm, Sweden. The new equipment is being used to ramp up mining operations
in advance of the start of the Phase 2 concentrator plant.