The milestone was made possible by the successful operation of Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators, which collectively milled 1.2 million tonnes of ore at an average feed grade of 4.58% copper.
For the year to date, Kamoa-Kakula has produced 390,061 tonnes of copper, with the newly ramped-up Phase 3 concentrator playing a pivotal role.
ALSO READ:
Ivanhoe Mines Q3: Kamoa-Kakula sets new copper production record
The facility achieved an average recovery rate of 85.3% during November, peaking at an impressive 90% over 24 hours on November 26. Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland praised the progress, noting, “November marked another significant milestone, with a further 10% increase in month-on-month copper production, raising the annualised production rate to approximately 550,000 tonnes. Our growth story is just beginning as we aim for a production capacity of 600,000 tonnes per annum.”
Friedland emphasised the project’s transformative impact, saying, “We are the unicorn of our industry – just three and a half years ago, we first produced copper from this vast, multi-generational copper complex.”
Strategic developments at Lobito Port
The project’s copper output is exported through Angola’s Lobito port, which has recently seen major upgrades. President Biden is expected to visit the port, following the US International Development Finance Corporation’s approval of a $553 million loan on October 24, 2024, to the Trafigura-led consortium managing the Lobito Atlantic Railway SA. This funding aims to further enhance railway infrastructure, improving logistical efficiency for exporting copper from the DRC.
ALSO READ:
Building Sustainable Communities WINNER: Ivanhoe Mines
On November 14, 2024, Trafigura announced the delivery of the first batch of 275 newly manufactured container wagons to Lobito. Built by Galison Manufacturing in South Africa, the wagons can carry up to 60.5 tonnes and are part of weekly deliveries scheduled to continue through 2026, bolstering the region’s transport capacity.
As Kamoa-Kakula achieves new milestones, the DRC is on track to surpass Peru as the world’s second-largest producer of mined copper by the end of 2024. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s November 25, 2024, report highlighted a 0.6% year-on-year decline in Peru’s copper production during the first nine months of 2024, totaling 1.99 million tonnes. Benchmark projects the DRC’s copper production to reach 2.9 million tonnes this year, exceeding Peru’s revised target of 2.8 million tonnes.
The DRC’s robust growth in copper production underscores its critical role in meeting global demand for essential minerals, driven by strategic investments and innovative projects like Kamoa-Kakula.
Contact Us
VUKA is the trusted media partner to key professionals, policy makers, suppliers and
manufacturers. We provide unparalleled opportunities for industry-wide connection.