| Company | Ivanhoe Mines |
| Mine | Kamoa-Kakula |
| Date | 2017 |
| Region | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Commodities | Copper |
| Throughput | 6 Mtpa |
| Mine Life | 26 years |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Kamoa-Kakula 2017 Development Plan outlines the technical and economic feasibility for the underground mining and processing of copper deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The plan encompasses the Kamoa 2017 Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for the Kansoko Mine and the Kamoa-Kakula 2017 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Kakula Mine. The project targets a combined production capacity of up to 12 Mtpa, with the Kansoko PFS focusing on a 6 Mtpa concentrator feed rate. The mining methods selected include controlled convergence room-and-pillar and drift-and-fill with pastefill, designed to handle the specific geological conditions of the Central African Copperbelt.
The processing infrastructure is designed to handle Run-of-Mine (ROM) ore through a staged crushing and grinding circuit, followed by flotation to produce copper concentrate. The concentrator design utilizes primary and secondary cone crushers, ball mills for grinding, and IsaMills for regrinding. Flotation circuits include rougher, scavenger, cleaner, and recleaner stages to maximize copper recovery. The project includes significant infrastructure development, including power supply rehabilitation, tailings storage facilities, and logistics corridors to the Lobito and Durban ports.
Financial analysis indicates a strong economic case, with the Kakula 6 Mtpa PEA showing an after-tax NPV of US$4.2 billion and the Kamoa-Kakula 12 Mtpa PEA showing an NPV of US$7.2 billion. The project relies on significant infrastructure investment, particularly in power generation and transport, to support the long-term operation. The plan assumes a copper price of US$3.00/lb and includes detailed cost estimates for capital and operating expenditures over the life of the mine.
Processing Profile
- Crushing: Primary Cone Crusher (CS660), Secondary Cone Crusher (CH865)
- Milling: Ball Mill (22 ft x 36 ft), IsaMill (M10000)
- Flotation: Rougher, Scavenger, Cleaner, Recleaner Cells
- Leaching: N/A
Reports
Website: https://www.ivanhoemines.com/what-we-do/operations-projects/kamoa-kakula-mining-complex/
Report Date: 2017
Region: Democratic Republic of Congo
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Copper
Throughput: 6 Mtpa
Mine Life: 26 years
Mine Type:
Ore type:
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Kamoa-Kakula 2017 PFS Technical Report
Kamoa-Kakula 2017 PFS Technical Report
| Company | Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. |
| Date | 2017 |
| Region | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Commodities | Copper |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Throughput | 6 Mtpa |
| Mine Life | 26 years |
Executive Summary
The Kamoa-Kakula 2017 Prefeasibility Study (PFS) evaluates the development of the Kamoa-Kakula copper project located in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project comprises the Kamoa deposit (including Kansoko Mine) and the Kakula deposit. The PFS considers a 6 Mtpa (million tonnes per annum) underground mining operation using room-and-pillar and controlled convergence mining methods. The process plant utilizes staged crushing, ball mill grinding, and flotation to produce a copper concentrate grading approximately 37% Cu for Kamoa and 54.9% Cu for Kakula. The project has a 26-year life of mine with total processed material of 125.2 Mt at an average grade of 3.81% Cu. Copper recovery is projected at 87.52%, producing 11.4 Mt of concentrate containing 4,178 kt of copper. The after-tax NPV at 8% discount rate is US$2,063 million with an IRR of 24.2%.
Key Parameters
Reports
Website: https://www.ivanhoemines.com/what-we-do/operations-projects/kamoa-kakula-mining-complex/
Report Date: 2017
Region: Democratic Republic of Congo
Project Status:
Commodity: Copper
Throughput: 6 Mtpa
Mine Life: 26 years
Mine Type: Underground
Ore type:
Kamoa Copper Project — 2012 Technical Report
Kamoa Copper Project — 2012 Technical Report
| Company | Ivanplats Limited |
| Date | 2012 |
| Region | Katanga Province, DRC |
| Commodities | Copper |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Throughput | 5,000,000 tpa |
| Mine Life | 61 years |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Kamoa Copper Project Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlines a long-term underground mining operation located in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is designed to process 5 million metric tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of ore, primarily utilizing a room-and-pillar mining method with initial open pit feed. The concentrator is configured with an MF2 circuit, featuring primary and secondary ball mills followed by a complex flotation circuit including roughers, scavengers, and multiple cleaner stages. The concentrate is processed on-site via a Direct to Blister Flash Smelting (DBF) technology, producing blister copper and sulphuric acid as saleable products.
Economic analysis of the project indicates a Net Present Value (NPV) of US$1.16 billion at a 10% discount rate, with an after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 17.0% and a payback period of 5.29 years. The mine life is estimated at 61 years based on a mineral inventory of 299 Mt. The project is currently in the development phase following the granting of an Exploitation Permit in August 2012, with a focus on further drilling and engineering studies to advance to a Feasibility Study.
Key operational parameters include a copper feed grade of 3.30% and a designed recovery of 85.4% at a concentrate grade of 32.8% Cu. The smelter has a capacity of 660,000 tpa concentrate, corresponding to 182,260 tpa copper product. Cobalt recovery is conceptually included in the smelter design but is not currently part of the revenue stream. The project relies on refurbished hydroelectric power plants and road logistics for supply chain management.
Key Commodities
- Copper
- Sulphuric Acid (By-product)
- Cobalt (Potential)
Processing Methods
- Crushing: Primary Jaw Crusher, Secondary/Tertiary Cone Crushers
- Milling: Primary Ball Mill (25 ft), Secondary Ball Mill (19 ft), IsaMill (Regrind)
- Flotation: Rougher, Scavenger, Cleaner, Re-cleaner
- Smelting: Direct to Blister Flash Smelting (DBF), Slag Cleaning Furnace (SCF), Cobalt Reduction Furnace (CoRF)
Reports
Website: https://www.ivanhoemines.com/what-we-do/operations-projects/kamoa-kakula-mining-complex/
Report Date: 2012
Region: Katanga Province, DRC
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Copper
Throughput: 5,000,000 tpa
Mine Life: 61 years
Mine Type: Underground
Ore type:
