Ivanhoe Mines Announces Africa's Largest and Greenest Copper Smelter Has Commenced Heat-Up

Core Viewpoint - Ivanhoe Mines has successfully commenced the heat-up of Africa's largest and greenest copper smelter at Kamoa-Kakula, marking a significant milestone for the company and the Congolese mining industry [1][19]. Group 1: Smelter Operations - The Kamoa-Kakula smelter, with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum, began its heat-up on November 21, 2025, and is expected to process its first feed of concentrate by the end of the year [1][12]. - The smelter aims to produce 99.7% copper anodes, with the management prioritizing the processing of concentrates from the Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators [12][26]. - Prior to the start-up, Kamoa-Kakula held approximately 37,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, which is expected to reduce to around 17,000 tonnes during 2026 as the smelter ramps up operations [13][26]. Group 2: Community and Cultural Significance - The opening ceremony included a traditional blessing by local community leaders, symbolizing the transformative change at Kamoa-Kakula and the integration of local culture into the project [2][4]. - The ceremonial flame used to ignite the smelter was carried from a traditional site, emphasizing the connection between the project and the local community [5][10]. Group 3: Technical and Infrastructure Details - The smelter is equipped with a 60-megawatt uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to provide backup power, along with approximately 180 MW of on-site diesel-powered generator capacity [14]. - The heat-up process is progressing well, with the furnace temperature reaching 800 degrees Celsius, and will be maintained at this level for nine days to complete the commissioning of various systems [15].