Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi this week formally reopened the ultrahigh-grade Kipushi zinc/copper/lead/germanium mine, which is a three way partnership (JV) between Ivanhoe Mines and DRC State-owned miner Gécamines.
The JV companions accomplished development of a brand new 800 000 t/y concentrator facility in Could and produced first focus in June. The mine is about to supply between 50 000 t and 70 000 t of zinc-in-concentrate this 12 months and greater than 278 000 t of zinc-in focus over the primary 5 years of operation.
A Presidential delegation attended the opening ceremony, led by Tshisekedi and First Girl Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi. Additionally in attendance had been the President of the Senate, three Vice Prime Ministers eight Nationwide Ministers, the Governor of Haut-Katanga, in addition to different nationwide, provincial, and native dignitaries.
The Presidential delegation was greeted by senior administration from Ivanhoe, Gécamines and Kipushi Company. Tshisekedi performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official reopening of the mine, and was given a tour of the operations.
“Ivanhoe Mines, along with our governmental companions, the Minister of the Portfolio and Gécamines, have executed it once more! Not solely have we constructed the biggest copper mine in Africa, right here within the DRC, now we have now constructed the biggest zinc mine in Africa, additionally right here within the DRC.
“The reopening of the Kipushi mine represents not solely a milestone for sustainable useful resource improvement but in addition a promise of financial empowerment for our native communities. At present, we’re respiratory a brand new life into one of many world’s richest deposits, collectively proving that accountable mining can drive shared prosperity.
“It’s subsequently an immense honour to welcome the President of the DRC, His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, and the Mom of the Nation, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, in sharing on this second within the official reopening of the Kipushi Mine,” Ivanhoe president Marna Cloete mentioned.
“It’s a nice honour to participate within the official inauguration of the Kipushi mine and to share this second within the presence of the best authority within the DRC. The Kipushi mine was the beating coronary heart of the Kipushi city since operations first started 100 years in the past. Nevertheless, the city’s coronary heart stopped throughout the Nineteen Nineties when operations had been shuttered.
“At present, its coronary heart has been revived, and the resumption of operations is a chance for a brand new financial paradigm, the place the mine will contribute to the prosperity of everybody, and specifically the residents of Kipushi city,” commented Gécamines chairperson Man-Robert Lukama Nkunzi.
