Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) has achieved the first production of copper anodes from the Kamoa-Kakula smelter in Africa, following starting the smelter’s heat-up five weeks ago.
Smelter ramp-up is underway to achieve a steady-state annualised rate of 500,000 tonnes of 99.7% pure copper anode – making it the largest copper smelter in Africa.
The ramp up of the Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter will continue throughout 2026, with completion expected towards the end of the year. The smelter is estimated to produce between 380,000 and 420,000 tonnes of copper this year, with the mid-point of 400,000 tonnes of copper – representing 80% of the smelter’s total capacity.
Founder Robert Friedland says this latest achievement is the culmination of a C$1.1 billion investment, 18 million man-hours of execution, and an “outstanding” health and safety record.
“This facility will proudly deliver the highest quality Congloses copper anodes to the international markets, setting a new global benchmark for scale, efficiency, and sustainability,” Friedland says.
To date, total unsold copper concentrate at the smelter, held in stockpiles and the smelting circuit, is expected to be reduced to 17,000 tonnes during 2026 as the smelter ramps up.
Ivanhoe Mines says 2026 copper sales are expected to be 20,000 tonnes higher than copper production as the onsite inventory of unsold copper concentrate is destocked, predominantly higher during H1 2026.
Kamoa-Kakula’s margins are forecast to expand as the smelter ramps up, as concentrates produced by phase one, two, and three concentrators are smelted onsite, rather than being exported un-beneficiated.
Concurrently with the first production of cathode anodes, the smelter also produced its first batch of by-product sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid is in high demand by other mining operations across the Central African copperbelt, especially following the export ban of acid by Zambia in September 2025.
Kamoa-Kakula is a joint venture operation between Ivanhoe Mines which holds 39.6%, Zijin Mining Group (SHA:601899) which holds 39.6%, Crystal River Global with 0.8%, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo with 20%.
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three operations in Southern Africa. The company’s assets produce copper, zinc, germanium, nickel, gold, and platinum group metals.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Ivanhoe Mines
