Ivanhoe Mines has pushed back against a statement by its Chinese partner, Zijin Mining, regarding operational challenges at their jointly owned Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following recent seismic activity.
"The press release by Zijin Mining refers to '...multiple roof-falling and rib-spalling in the eastern section of the [Kakula] mine,” Ivanhoe was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"Ivanhoe Mines does not agree with this statement."
The company clarified that preliminary assessments indicated the seismic activity had led to a redistribution of underground forces, resulting in “‘scaling’, or rock falls, from the sidewalls of certain mining areas”.
Last week, Ivanhoe announced that some mining operations at Kakula were temporarily suspended.
The Kamoa-Kakula complex, Africa’s largest copper producer and among the world’s biggest, remains under scrutiny.
In its Friday update, Ivanhoe added: "The operational teams are currently focused on safely repairing damage caused to the cables and pipework that support the underground pumping infrastructure."
Zijin had earlier warned that the disruptions could have an "adverse impact" on meeting the mine’s 2025 production target of 520,000 to 580,000 metric tons. Kamoa-Kakula produced 437,000 tons last year.
However, Ivanhoe countered, stating it could only determine whether production guidance needed adjustment after a full investigation.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
