Ivanhoe Mines produced 100,812 tonnes (t) of copper in concentrate at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the second quarter and 186,925 t of copper in the first half of the year.
It said that the Phase 3 concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula was anticipated to reach steady-state production in the third quarter, thereby significantly expanding the annual capacity of copper production to over 600,000 t.
Consequently, Ivanhoe has maintained its full-year production projection for Kamoa-Kakula at a range of 440,000 t to 490,000 t of copper in concentrate.
During the second quarter, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators of Kamoa-Kakula milled about 2.3 million tonnes of ore at an average feed grade of 5.3% copper.
During the quarter, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators produced 99,706 t of copper, with an average flotation recovery rate of 87%.
This surpasses the Phase 1 and 2 concentrator design recovery rate of 86%.
The Phase 3 concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula, which was just finished months ahead of schedule, produced its first concentrate on June 10 and is currently undergoing hot commissioning.
Since then, the Phase 3 concentrator has generated 1,100 t of copper in concentrate.
Surface run-of-mine stockpiles at Kamoa-Kakula were storing 4.82 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 3.26% copper as of June 30.
This comprises 2.31 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 3.72 percent at Kakula and 2.51 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2.85 percent at Kamoa and Kansoko.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
