TSX-listed Ivanhoe Mines has reported that Phase 1, 2 and 3 concentrators at its Kamoa-Kakula complex, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), milled a total 3.62-million tonnes of ore, producing 112 009 t of copper, for the second quarter.

This represents an 11% year-on-year increase in output.

As previously guided, Ivanhoe says Stage 1 dewatering activities have been in place and operating to plan as of June 2. Water levels on the eastern side of the Kakula mine have decreased modestly ahead of Stage 2 dewatering activities from next month.

The five procured high-capacity, submersible Stage 2 dewatering pumps are currently undergoing factory assembly in China and are expected to be air-freighted to site within the coming weeks.

In early June, mining on the western side of the Kakula mine restarted.

By mid-June, the mining rate had ramped up to 300 000 t a month – 3.6-million tonnes on an annualised basis – with grades ranging from 3% to 4% copper.

As a result, since mid-June, the combined processing rate of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators ramped up to about 670 000 t a month – eight-million tonnes a year on an annualised basis.

Additionally, Ivanhoe says underground development of a new mining area, located on the far eastern side of the Kakula mine, has recently begun.

The development of the two new access drives will be conducted from existing underground infrastructure.

“We commend the hard work and dedication of our management team, and mining and engineering crews at Kamoa-Kakula, who continue to work tirelessly to turn around operations at Kakula,” says founder and co-chairperson Robert Friedland.

Ivanhoe notes that Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 concentrators  are now operating at about 85% of design capacity, including 45% ore feed from Kakula western side; while the Phase 3 concentrator is operating 30% above design capacity.

The company also explains that construction of Kamoa-Kakula’s Project 95 is about 50% complete and on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2026.

Friedland notes that operational recovery plans are well under way at Kamoa-Kakula following the decisive and proactive actions undertaken by management in response to the seismic activity first announced on May 20.

“Safety of our employees and contractors remains our top priority at Kamoa-Kakula . . . and we are now systematically and judiciously increasing development activities to increase the supply of high-grade, fresh ore to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators from mining areas on the western side of the Kakula orebody.”

Friedland says the company expects to return to mining areas grading about 5% copper on the western side of Kakula towards the end of the year, which will drive a further improvement in operating results and efficiency.

Meanwhile, the company has started development towards a new high-grade mining area on the far eastern side of Kakula, which is expected to provide additional high-grade ore by the second quarter of 2026.

Friedland says the company also expects to transport excess ore from the Kamoa and Kansoko mines, which continue to outperform on all metrics, to further augment feed of fresh material to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators as soon as possible.

He also notes that dewatering efforts at the Kakula mine are proceeding to plan, which will provide Ivanhoe access to assess additional high-grade ore from the affected workings that can be safely mined to feed the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators.

Additionally, the Kipushi concentrator milled a record 153 342 t of ore in the second quarter of this year, producing a near-record 41 788 t of zinc.

"We also commend our management team at Kipushi for a strong quarterly operating performance. Kipushi is now well on track as one of the world's largest, highest-grade, and greenest major zinc mines,” says Friedland.

Moreover, Ivanhoe says its Platreef platinum group metals (PGMs) mine, in South Africa, is on schedule for first production in the fourth quarter of this year.

“Lastly, but certainly not least, we are extremely excited for first production at Platreef later this year . . . which will set the stage for a phased expansion that is set to position the operation as the world's largest, and lowest-cost producer of PGMs, nickel, copper and gold.

“Given the current rally in PGM prices and the rising interest in these metals, we firmly believe Platreef is positioned to emerge at the right moment in the cycle to deliver exceptional returns for our shareholders,” says Friedland.