Kamoa Produces Record Q3 Copper Tonnage
The Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants also set a monthly production record in September 2022, producing 33,484 mt of copper in concentrate, while achieving a daily production record of 1,426 mt of copper in concentrate on September 3. “Kamoa has effectively doubled its copper production rate to approximately 400,000 mt/y since the first quarter, and is expected to be producing at an annualized rate of 450,000 mt/y by the second quarter of 2023,” Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland said. “This all has been achieved ahead of schedule and on budget.”
Management continues to anticipate that the early commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator plant in March 2022, approximately four months ahead of schedule, will enable Kamoa Copper to deliver in the upper range of its increased 2022 production guidance of between 310,000- 340,000 mt of copper in concentrate.
Construction on the Phase 3 box cut and decline ramp for the two new underground mines, Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2, is now complete, while an excavation of the twin declines to access the new mining areas is advancing well. Construction works for the ramp, cut-off drains, and water-collection sumps have also been completed. Meanwhile, the basic engineering design for the entire Phase 3 expansion project is complete, with procurement activities well advanced. Phase 3 is expected to increase copper production capacity to about 600,000 mt/y by the fourth quarter of 2024, positioning Kamoa as the world’s third-largest copper mining complex, and the largest copper mining complex on the African continent.