The historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine in the DRC is adjacent to the town of Kipushi, approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Lubumbashi on the Central African Copperbelt. Kipushi is approximately 250 kilometres southeast of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and less than one kilometre from the Zambian border. Ivanhoe acquired its 68% interest in the Kipushi Project in November 2011, through Kipushi Holding which is 100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. The balance of 32% in the Kipushi Project is held by the DRC state-owned mining company, Gécamines, whose ownership will increase to 38% upon completion of the condition’s precedent to the updated joint venture agreement signed in late 2023.
Construction of the new 800,000-tonne-per-annum concentrator facility was completed in May 2024 with first concentrate produced in June 2024. The concentrator includes dense media separation (DMS) and a milling and flotation circuit and is expected to produce more than 270,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate over the first five years of production, which will place it among the world's largest zinc producers. Design recoveries are targeted at 96%, with a concentrate grade averaging 55% contained zinc.
Underground development continues to open multiple access levels into the Big Zinc orebody, while decline development is well-advanced. A total of 5,580 metres of lateral and decline development has been completed to date.
In line with the Kipushi 2022 Feasibility Study, mining will focus on the zinc-rich Big Zinc and Southern Zinc zones, with an estimated 11.8 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources grading 35.3% zinc.
To mine zinc with excellence and transform lives in Kipushi and surrounding areas through collaborative development and shared value.
Excellence.
Collaboration.
Respect.
Leading the global zinc market through mining the world’s richest zinc-copper-germanium-silver deposit and sharing value with the people of Kipushi and the DRC.
To unlock the potential of Kipushi’s mining resources, driving sustainable economic growth, while fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.