On February 24, 2025, Ivanhoe Mines announced a $50 million investment in exploration activities at its Western Forelands copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is about two-thirds of the company's total exploration budget of $75 million for 2025.

This year, Ivanhoe plans to implement an ambitious program that includes 102,000 meters of diamond drilling and 18,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling at Western Forelands. The project will build on last year’s progress, including the expansion of the mineralized zone of the Makoko deposit and the discovery of the Makoko West zone.

The company is also set to update its mineral resource estimate for Makoko in the second quarter of 2025. This update should include initial resource estimates for Makoko West and Kitoko, a high-grade copper zone discovered in 2023.

The first estimate for the deposits that currently comprise Western Forelands Kiala and Makoko revealed that the project contains 21 million tonnes of indicated mineral resources with a copper grade exceeding 3%. Encouraging drilling results position Ivanhoe Mines to potentially develop its second copper mine in the DRC. A few kilometers away, Ivanhoe operates Kamoa-Kakula, the country’s largest copper mine.

While 2025 could be a pivotal year for Western Forelands, significant challenges remain before construction begins. Among others, Ivanhoe must confirm the project's mineral resources and conduct comprehensive studies to assess its economic viability. Only after these steps will the company consider raising funds for eventual mine development.

The positive outlook for copper demand and prices may help attract investors as Ivanhoe advances its exploration efforts in this promising region.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho