This is an incredible achievement, especially since operations only started three years ago. Also in the DRC, Ivanhoe has recently restarted the historic Kipushi zinc mine, set to become the World’s fourth-largest zinc mine. The company’s positive impact extends beyond contributing revenue to the government. Through several targeted socio-economic initiatives, Ivanhoe Mines is also helping uplift the lives of host communities. GERARD PETER finds out more from JASMINE ABRAHAMS, Vice-President of Sustainability.
Kamoa-Kakula’s current workforce consists of just over 21 000 employees and contractors. Abrahams explains, “From the start, we prioritised local employment, with 91% of our workforce recruited from the region. We have also trained and promoted many DRC nationals to the senior management ranks at the mine.”
Anyone travelling the road from Kolwezi to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex would have seen the hundreds of trucks carrying copper from the mine. This is a testament to the opportunities the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture has created in its logistics supply chain for local and regional truck owners. This is just one of many initiatives the company has undertaken at the mine.
Another is the establishment of a sewing cooperative, owned and operated primarily by women, to provide uniforms to the mine. The initiative has now expanded its operation to produce uniforms for other companies and fashion items for commercial sale. Other initiatives include a brickmaking company and establishing early childhood development centres (ECDs).
The latter is an initiative that Abrahams is incredibly proud of. “Prior to this, no such facility existed in the region. It is amazing to see young children beginning their educational journey in preschool,” Abrahams states.
She adds that education is a vital cornerstone of Ivanhoe’s commitment to community giving. To that end, the company launched The Kamoa Centre of Excellence (KCE) in 2023. “The Kamoa Centre of Excellence aims to equip learners from Kolwezi and surrounding communities with the vital skills to pursue university education and employment opportunities. By teaching English and computer literacy, the centre fosters a talented pool of young individuals. They benefit not just the Kamoa- Kakula joint venture, but the entire region and country,” she states.
The KCE accepts students who are earning good grades at school. It also considers that educational standards may vary between urban areas like Kolwezi and rural village schools. As part of the selection process for the year-long programme, applicants also participate in an interview.
To make a meaningful contribution, Abrahams says it is important every initiative the company undertakes aligns with its sustainable development vision. Ivanhoe’s sustainability targets link to eight key UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). This includes access to proper healthcare, water and education.
The company is also keenly focused on developing alternative livelihoods that are part of its mining value chain and encourage small business development. “For example, we have funded the establishment of a fish farm near Kamoa-Kakula. To feed the fish, the company has to import food from Zambia, which can be costly. To address this, we are exploring implementing a pelletiser business to make our food. The aquaculture initiative has been such a success it is replicated at Kipushi Mine,” Abrahams states.
“Our approach to sustainability prioritises collaboration with communities, ensuring our efforts yield meaningful, lasting impact.”
JASMINE ABRAHAMS
Meanwhile, at Kipushi, Ivanhoe gives artisanal miners a chance at a better life. “There are several individuals in the community engaged in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASMs) on the edge of the Kipushi town. We are working with the National Institute for Training in the DRC and have already integrated some of these miners into our workforce,” Abrahams says.
Ivanhoe Mines has established a bursary programme to support local youth. Some recipients have gone on to participate in the DRC’s First Lady programme and further their studies in France. But it is not all about learning. In a country where football is viewed as a religion, Ivanhoe has built a world-class football pitch adjacent to the Kipushi Mine. It not only provides recreation for many youths but also helps to keep them out of trouble.
Currently, the biggest initiative at Kipushi is a water pumping station, a crucial infrastructure that supplies water to the entire surrounding town. To date, the company has also built 32 water wells in and around the town, providing much-needed access to water.
Abrahams states that recent regulatory changes in the DRC have created collaborative opportunities that benefit communities. “The DRC has now implemented its Cahier de Charge (Social Term Sheet) and this, together with the 0.3% Endowment Funds, ensures money is available for socio-economic development.”
Collaboration and providing funding for community development are also reaping rewards in South Africa. Abrahams points out that 20% of its Platreef mine is owned by the local community. “Through a public benefit trust fund, which will ultimately earn dividends from the mine, we currently donate R11 million a year to invest in community projects. This is mainly used in infrastructure development. To date, the money sponsors projects to address key needs in local communities, the most recent being the installation of solar-powered streetlights, re-gravelling roads and cleaning culverts.”
However, it is not just about throwing money at community initiatives. According to Abrahams, imposing solutions on communities from an outside perspective is ineffective. “You cannot take a paternalistic approach to decide what they need, it’s ultimately counterproductive. Many of these communities already have the land and assets and know what they require. Our approach to sustainability prioritises collaboration with communities, ensuring our efforts yield meaningful, lasting impact,” she concludes.
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