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Ivanhoe Mines Announces Debottlenecking of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 Concentrators Now Complete Ahead of Schedule
Milling operations increased by 22% to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per annum Copper production c...
About this update from Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Class A
[{"type":"text","content":"Ivanhoe Mines Announces Debottlenecking of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 Concentrators Now Complete Ahead of ScheduleMilling operations increased by 22% to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per annumCopper production capacity increases to 450,000 tonnes per annum Hollywood, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2023) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete, announced today at the 32nd BMO Global Metals & Mining Conference that the debottlenecking of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex's Phase 1 and 2 concentrators has been completed ahead of schedule. The ongoing final installation and commissioning of a fourth Larox filter press is the final step in the overall debottlenecking program, which is expected to be completed in March 2023.Mr. Friedland commented: \"The operations team at Kamoa-Kakula continues to exceed expectations ... once again delivering an important expansion project ahead of schedule and on budget. We intend to reach a sustainable, annualized production rate of 450,000 tonnes of copper during the second quarter, which is an exceptional achievement considering we declared Phase 1 production at Kamoa-Kakula, alongside our joint venture partners, Zijin Mining, less than two years ago.\"\"Our dedicated team of engineers are determined to continue this record of operational excellence as we execute the Phase 3 expansion. The project will include the integration of Africa's largest direct-to-blister smelter complex and will drive annualized production to over 600,000 tonnes of copper by early 2025 ... continuing Kamoa-Kakula's distinction as the fastest-growing, highest-grade copper complex on our planet.\"The debottlenecking program of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators is designed to increase the nameplate ore processing capacity by 22% from 7.6 to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per annum, increasing production capacity up to approximately 450,000 tonnes per annum of copper in concentrate. For comparison, Kamoa-Kakula produced 333,497 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2022.Two scheduled plant shutdowns, to tie in the new debottlenecking equipment, are now complete. The shutdown of the Phase 1 concentrator took place in January 2023, and the shutdown of the Phase 2 concentrator plant was completed on February 22, 2023. The new equipment c...