Metals trader Trafigura and TSX-listed Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa Copper business in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has successfully completed its first sale of low-carbon copper anodes, which is destined for delivery to non-ferrous metals supplier Aurubis Group.

This initial delivery marks a significant step for the companies in selling some of the world’s lowest-carbon refined copper.

The anodes were delivered to Trafigura’s dry port facility in Kolwezi and will be transported through the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) in coming days. The LAR provides the shortest route from Kolwezi to an Africa port, reducing inland transit times to just seven days.

LAR began services in January 2024, with Trafigura being part of the consortium that was awarded the concession to build this Angolan rail line.

The product will then be shipped from the Port of Lobito to Aurubis for use in its European refining operations.

The copper anodes were produced in the recently commissioned state-of-the-art copper smelter at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC. The smelter incorporates cutting-edge direct-to-blister technology supplied by Metso Outotec.

The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex has been assessed to be the world’s lowest carbon-emitting major copper mine.

Kamoa Copper operates the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex as a joint venture between Ivanhoe and Zijin Mining.

Trafigura is one of three offtakers for the copper anodes produced by the Kamoa-Kakula smelter. Once ramp-up is complete, the Kamoa-Kakula smelter will be capable of producing up to 500 000 t/y of 99.7%-pure copper anode, making it the largest copper smelter in Africa.

"Bringing together Trafigura, Aurubis, Kamoa Copper and the LAR to complete the sale and transport of low-carbon copper anodes from the DRC shows what the mining supply chain can achieve when it works together,” says Trafigura metals, minerals and bulk commodities head Gonzalo de Olazaval.

He adds that the transaction reflects the strength of Trafigura’s long-standing relationships with Aurubis, a world class company in its field, and Kamoa Copper, whose smelter is among the least carbon-intensive in the industry – a testament to the world-class operation it has established in the DRC.

"We are equally proud that these anodes will be transported via LAR, which is a milestone made possible by the vision and support of the governments of the DRC and Angola, as well as the loan package provided by the US International Development Finance Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa,” De Olazaval states.

Ivanhoe founder and co-chairperson Robert Friedland comments that the first shipment of 99.7%-pure copper anodes marks another achievement for Kamoa-Kakula and for Africa’s rapidly advancing infrastructure.

For him, LAR has become a transformational gateway linking the extraordinary mineral wealth of the DRC with global markets at unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Friedland explains copper produced at Kamoa-Kakula, transported through LAR and refined in Aurubis’s industry-leading low-carbon facilities in Europe, represents a new paradigm in the creation of the greenest and most sustainable refined copper supply chain serving global markets.

“Combined with our low-carbon smelter, this integrated supply chain is setting a new global benchmark for low-carbon-intensive copper for generations to come."

LAR’s volumes are expected to continue increasing throughout the year as LAR establishes itself as a reliable, high-capacity export route. In 2025, LAR transported more than 200 000 t of cargo to and from the Port of Lobito. In January alone, 30 000 t of cargo were transported.