Ivanhoe Mines produced  437,061 tonnes of copper concentrate at its Kamoa-Kakula project in 2024, up 12% year-on-year. The Canadian firm disclosed the figure on January 8, 2025, saying it aligns with its revised forecast range of 425,000-450,000 tonnes. This year, Ivanhoe Mines aims to produce 520,000 to 580,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. 

Last June, it commissioned a third concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula, boosting the project’s installed capacity to 600,000 tonnes per year. This new concentrator should support Ivanhoe Mines’ ambitions. It expects to surpass 600,000 tonnes of copper concentrate production by 2026.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the world’s second-largest copper producer in 2023, surpassing Peru. While Kamoa-Kakula played a major role in this shift, the Congolese government is concerned about the sales process for copper produced at the complex. The authorities recently argued that the negotiated prices do not reflect “competitive market rates”. During a council of ministers held last October, the government suggested state involvement in selecting buyers for Kamoa's production.

Kamoa-Kakula is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River (0.8%), and the Congolese state (20%).

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho