Core Insights - The debottlenecking program at the Kipushi Zinc Mine was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, resulting in a significant increase in zinc production [1][7] - The concentrator throughput rate increased by 20%, achieving a new production record of 1,052 tonnes of zinc produced in 24 hours, which translates to an annualized rate of over 340,000 tonnes [1][4] - A three-year offtake agreement was signed with Mercuria for up to one-third of Kipushi's high-grade zinc production, complementing existing agreements with CITIC Metal and Trafigura [8] Production Improvements - Engineering work for the debottlenecking program began in September 2024, aiming to boost the concentrator throughput from 800,000 to 960,000 tonnes of ore per annum [2] - The DMS circuit's availability improved from approximately 70% to 96% after upgrades, leading to concentrator recoveries exceeding 90% [3] - In the week following the August shutdown, a record of 5,545 tonnes of zinc in concentrate was produced, indicating a potential annual production rate of about 290,000 tonnes [4] Future Production Guidance - The company anticipates a significant increase in zinc production for the remainder of 2025, maintaining production guidance between 180,000 and 240,000 tonnes of zinc [6] - Additional backup electrical upgrades are underway, with six megawatts of backup generator capacity expected to be operational in the fourth quarter to support operations during grid instability [5][12] Safety and Operational Achievements - The Kipushi project team achieved an industry-leading safety record, completing the construction and debottlenecking program without any lost time injuries [7] - The Kipushi concentrator's recent performance positions it to potentially become the world's fourth-largest zinc mining operation if the current run rate is sustained [4]