Kamoa-Kakula first started producing copper concentrates from the Part 1, 3.8mtpa capability concentrator plant in Might 2021. It subsequently reached industrial manufacturing on July 1, and is predicted to provide 200,000 tonnes of copper per 12 months.
Development of the Phase 2 concentrator, which might be a “carbon copy” of the Part 1 plant and double the annual manufacturing, is presently underway and is about 70% full, in line with Ivanhoe’s newest replace.
Ivanhoe’s manufacturing steering for 2021 was set at 92,500-100,000 tonnes, which was initially projected to be 80,000-95,000 tonnes. The annual manufacturing steering was additionally beforehand elevated in November, reflecting the profitable completion of ramp-up of the Part 1 concentrator.
“Kamoa Copper’s efficiency marks a wonderful finish to what has actually been a banner 12 months for Ivanhoe Mines,” Ivanhoe’s founder and govt co-chair Robert Friedland mentioned in a information launch.
Associated learn: Ivanhoe’s Kamoa-Kakula yields profit in first full production quarter
“We want to lengthen heartfelt congratulations to the group at Kamoa-Kakula, who persistently exceeded expectations in the course of the building and improvement of the world’s latest world-scale copper mine, and have continued that outperformance as we’ve moved by ramp-up and into full manufacturing,” Friedland added.
Friedland additionally mentioned the Part 2 enlargement stays “considerably forward of schedule,” and the corporate is on its technique to doubling annual copper manufacturing to roughly 400,000 tonnes beginning early in Q2 2022.
To date in December, Ivanhoe has seen feed grades in extra of 6% copper, and recoveries have additionally been exceeding its design restoration of 86%, which, in line with Friedland, bodes properly for the corporate’s skill to effectively ramp-up future expansions at Kamoa-Kakula.
The Ivanhoe administration group now envisions the Part 3 concentrator to enter manufacturing by the tip of 2024.
Via deliberate phased expansions, the Kamoa-Kakula underground operation is positioned to grow to be one of many largest copper producers on the planet, with peak annual copper manufacturing of greater than 800,000 tonnes.
