Ivanhoe Mines produced 86,203 tonnes of copper in concentrate at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the first quarter of 2024.
It said Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 concentrators milled about 2.06 million tonnes of ore during the first quarter at an average feed grade of 4.8% copper.
Copper flotation recoveries for the quarter averaged 87.4%, above the Phase 1 and 2 concentrator design recovery rate of 86.0%.
Ivanhoe said a daily milling record was achieved on January 2, 2024, when 31, 375 tonnes of ore were processed by the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators over 24 hours.
This performance is equivalent to an annual milling rate of 10.5 million tonnes (after accounting for availability).
It said a quarterly mining record of 2.50 million tonnes of ore was achieved from the Kakula and Kamoa 1 underground mines.
Ivanhoe maintained its 2024 annual production guidance for Kamoa-Kakula at between 440,000 and 490, 000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
