Kipushi Debottlenecking Program Completed Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF) has successfully completed the debottlenecking program at its Kipushi Zinc Mine ahead of schedule and under budget. The program has increased the concentrator throughput rate by 20% from 800,000 to 960,000 tonnes of ore annually.
Key achievements include a record 1,052 tonnes of zinc produced in 24 hours (equivalent to 340,000 tonnes annually) and improved dense media separation (DMS) circuit availability from 70% to 96%, boosting concentrator recoveries to over 90%. The company has signed a three-year offtake agreement with Mercuria for up to one-third of Kipushi's zinc concentrate, including a $20 million loan facility.
The company maintains its 2025 production guidance of 180,000-240,000 tonnes of zinc, with expectations of significantly increased production rates for the remainder of the year.
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF) ha completato con successo il programma di eliminazione dei colli di bottiglia alla sua miniera di zinco Kipushi, in anticipo sui tempi e sotto il budget previsto. Il programma ha aumentato la capacità di trattamento del concentratore del 20%, portandola da 800.000 a 960.000 tonnellate di minerale all'anno.
I risultati principali includono un record di 1.052 tonnellate di zinco prodotte in 24 ore (equivalenti a 340.000 tonnellate annue) e una disponibilità del circuito di separazione a mezzo di mezzo denso (DMS) migliorata dal 70% al 96%, con recuperi del concentratore superiori al 90%. La società ha siglato un accordo di offtake triennale con Mercuria per fino a un terzo del concentrato di zinco di Kipushi, comprensivo di una linea di credito di 20 milioni di dollari.
La società conferma la guida produttiva per il 2025 di 180.000-240.000 tonnellate di zinco, prevedendo tassi di produzione significativamente più elevati per il resto dell'anno.
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF) ha completado con éxito el programa de eliminación de cuellos de botella en su mina de zinc Kipushi antes de lo previsto y por debajo del presupuesto. El programa ha incrementado la tasa de procesamiento del concentrador en un 20%, pasando de 800.000 a 960.000 toneladas de mineral anuales.
Entre los logros clave se incluye un récord de 1.052 toneladas de zinc producidas en 24 horas (equivalente a 340.000 toneladas al año) y una disponibilidad del circuito de separación por medio denso (DMS) mejorada del 70% al 96%, lo que ha elevado las recuperaciones del concentrador por encima del 90%. La compañía ha firmado un acuerdo de offtake a tres años con Mercuria para hasta un tercio del concentrado de zinc de Kipushi, que incluye una línea de préstamo de 20 millones de dólares.
La compañía mantiene su guía de producción para 2025 de 180.000-240.000 toneladas de zinc, con expectativas de aumentos significativos en las tasas de producción para el resto del año.
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF)는 킵시(Kipushi) 아연 광산의 병목 해소 프로그램을 예정보다 빨리, 예산보다 적게 투입하여 성공적으로 완료했습니다. 이 프로그램으로 농축 공정의 처리량이 20% 증가하여 연간 80만 톤에서 96만 톤으로 늘어났습니다.
주요 성과로는 24시간 동안 1,052톤의 아연 생산(연간 환산 34만 톤)이라는 기록과 밀도 매체 분리(DMS) 회로의 가동률이 70%에서 96%로 개선되어 농축 회수율이 90%를 넘은 점이 있습니다. 회사는 킵시의 아연 정광 중 최대 3분의 1에 대해 메르쿠리아(Mercuria)와 3년간의 오프테이크 계약을 체결했으며, 여기에는 2,000만 달러의 대출 시설이 포함됩니다.
회사는 2025년 생산 가이던스를 180,000-240,000톤의 아연으로 유지하며, 연말까지 생산 속도가 크게 증가할 것으로 기대하고 있습니다.
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF) a mené à bien le programme de suppression des goulets d'étranglement à sa mine de zinc de Kipushi, en avance sur le calendrier et sous le budget. Le programme a augmenté le débit du concentrateur de 20%, passant de 800 000 à 960 000 tonnes de minerai par an.
Parmi les réalisations clés figurent un record de 1 052 tonnes de zinc produites en 24 heures (équivalant à 340 000 tonnes par an) et une disponibilité du circuit de séparation par milieu dense (DMS) améliorée de 70% à 96%, portant les récupérations du concentrateur à plus de 90%. La société a signé un contrat d'offtake de trois ans avec Mercuria pour jusqu'à un tiers du concentré de zinc de Kipushi, incluant une facilité de prêt de 20 millions de dollars.
La société maintient ses prévisions de production pour 2025 à 180 000–240 000 tonnes de zinc, en s'attendant à des taux de production sensiblement accrus pour le reste de l'année.
Ivanhoe Mines (OTCQX: IVPAF) hat das Entschärfungsprogramm zur Beseitigung von Engpässen in seiner Kipushi-Zinkmine erfolgreich vorzeitig und unter Budget abgeschlossen. Das Programm hat die Durchsatzrate des Konzentrators um 20% erhöht, von 800.000 auf 960.000 Tonnen Erz pro Jahr.
Zentrale Erfolge sind ein Rekord von 1.052 Tonnen produziertem Zink in 24 Stunden (entspricht 340.000 Tonnen jährlich) sowie eine verbesserte Verfügbarkeit des Dense-Media-Separation-(DMS-)Kreislaufs von 70% auf 96%, wodurch die Konzentratorrückgewinnung über 90% liegt. Das Unternehmen hat mit Mercuria einen Dreijahres-Offtake-Vertrag über bis zu ein Drittel des Zinkkonzentrats von Kipushi geschlossen, einschließlich einer 20-Millionen-Dollar-Kreditfazilität.
Das Unternehmen bestätigt seine Produktionsprognose für 2025 von 180.000–240.000 Tonnen Zink und erwartet für den Rest des Jahres deutlich erhöhte Produktionsraten.
- Debottlenecking program completed ahead of schedule and under budget
- 20% increase in concentrator throughput capacity to 960,000 tonnes annually
- Record production of 1,052 tonnes of zinc in 24 hours
- DMS circuit availability improved from 70% to 96%
- Concentrator recoveries increased to over 90%
- Outstanding safety record with zero lost time injuries
- New offtake agreement secured with Mercuria including $20M loan facility
- Previous issues with excessive fine material causing DMS circuit blockages
- Grid instability requiring additional backup generator capacity
Kipushi concentrator throughput rate increased by
Record 1,052 tonnes of zinc produced in 24 hours, equivalent to an annualized rate of over 340,000 tonnes
Off-take agreement signed with Mercuria for up to one-third of high-grade zinc production
Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - August 27, 2025) - Ivanhoe Mines' (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announced today that the debottlenecking program at the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Zinc Mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was recently completed both ahead of schedule and under budget. Zinc production from the Kipushi concentrator has significantly improved following the completion of the debottlenecking program, setting multiple new production records.
Engineering work on the debottlenecking program commenced in September 2024 with the aim of boosting the concentrator throughput rate by
Concurrent with the integrations of the debottlenecking program, the August shutdown also included additional upgrades to the dense media separation (DMS) circuit to improve equipment availability. As reported on October 7, 2024, excessive fine material (fines) in the ore feed was causing blockages in the DMS circuit, leading to frequent unscheduled shutdowns. Following the completion of the upgrades during the recent shutdown, the DMS circuit availability has increased notably from approximately
Multiple concentrator records have been achieved since the completion of the debottlenecking program, due to both improved concentrator throughput rates and DMS availability. In the seven days following the early August shutdown, a record of 5,545 tonnes of zinc in concentrate was produced, equivalent to an annual production rate of approximately 290,000 tonnes of zinc. Sustaining this run rate would make the Kipushi Mine the world's fourth-largest zinc mining operation. In addition, a record 1,052 tonnes of zinc in concentrate was produced over 24 hours in mid-August, equivalent to an annual production rate of over 340,000 tonnes of zinc, after accounting for availability.
Further back-up electrical upgrades continue with the installation of an additional six megawatts in backup generator capacity, which is expected to be commissioned and available in the fourth quarter. It is anticipated that the back-up capacity will be used to support operations during times of grid instability.
Following the completion of the aforementioned initiatives, it is expected that the rate of zinc production during the remainder of the year will significantly increase, therefore Kipushi's 2025 production guidance remains unchanged at between 180,000 and 240,000 tonnes of zinc.
In addition to delivering the debottlenecking program ahead of schedule and under budget, the Kipushi project team has done so with an industry-leading safety record. Throughout construction of the Kipushi concentrator, which started in September 2022 and was completed in June 2024, as well as the recently completed debottlenecking program, the project team at Kipushi did not record a single lost time injury (LTI). This is an outstanding and incredibly rare industry achievement.
In July 2025, a three-year offtake agreement was signed with independent energy and commodity group, Mercuria of Geneva, Switzerland. The agreement is for up to one-third of the remaining unallocated offtake of Kipushi's high-grade zinc concentrate. Off-take agreements for the other approximately two-thirds of Kipushi's zinc concentrate production are already in place with CITIC Metal (HK) Limited of Hong Kong and Trafigura Asia Trading of Singapore, as announced on July 2, 2024. In addition to the recently signed off-take agreement, Mercuria has provided a loan facility of
Run of mine (ROM) stockpiles at the Kipushi concentrator. The Kipushi concentrator produced a record 1,052 tonnes of zinc in concentrate over 24 hours in mid-August 2025 following the ahead-of-schedule completion of the debottlenecking program.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/264084_9d7ba25764e5581f_002full.jpg
Kipushi's projects team is undergoing the electrical installation for the six MW of the new back-up generation capacity, which were recently delivered to site.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/264084_9d7ba25764e5581f_003full.jpg
Crispin Mutombo, Kipushi's Weighbridge Officer, weighing a truck of Kipushi high-grade zinc concentrate prior to export. Each bag contains two tonnes of concentrate. In August, the Kipushi concentrator set a new record, producing 2,058 tonnes of zinc concentrate in 24 hours.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/264084_9d7ba25764e5581f_004full.jpg
Disclosure of technical information
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience, and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is Ivanhoe Mines' Executive Vice President, Projects. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper Mine in South Africa, which is set to start production in Q4 2025.
Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54
Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on X.
Information contact
Investors
Vancouver: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034
London: Tommy Horton +44 7866 913 207
Media
Tanya Todd +1.604.331.9834
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release.
Such statements include, without limitation: (i) statements that the recently completed debottlenecking program aims to boost the concentrator throughput rate by
Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: (i) uncertainty around the rate of water ingress into underground workings; (ii) the ability, and speed with which, additional equipment can be secured; (iii) the continuation of seismic activity; (iv) the state of underground infrastructure; (v) uncertainty around when future underground access can be secured; (vi) future mine stability cannot be guaranteed; and (vii) future mining methods, may differ the impact on Kakula operations. Additionally, the factors discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and its current annual information form, and elsewhere in this news release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; changes in the rate of water ingress into underground workings; the continuation of seismic activity; the state of underground infrastructure; delays in securing underground access; changes to the mining methods required in the future; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and its current annual information form.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264084
FAQ
What are the key achievements of Kipushi's debottlenecking program in 2025?
What is IVPAF's zinc production guidance for 2025?
What are the details of Kipushi's new offtake agreement with Mercuria?
How has the Kipushi Mine's safety performance been during construction?
What improvements were made to Kipushi's DMS circuit availability?
