Ivanhoe Mines Resumes Mining at Kakula Mine with Enhanced Safety Measures

Ivanhoe Mines reports on operational activities at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. Underground mining on the western side of the Kakula Mine has resumed after seismic activity was experienced in May 2025. Mining on the eastern side is expected to start soon, with dewatering activities expected to commence in August 2025. The frequency of seismic activity has decreased, and additional pumping capacity was installed to stabilize underground water levels. The Phase 1 and 2 concentrators continue to operate at 50% capacity, processing ore from surface stockpiles. The copper smelter is expected to start up in September 2025.

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) has announced the restart of underground mining operations on the western side of the Kakula Mine, effective June 7, 2025 [1]. The decision follows the stabilization of underground water levels and a decrease in seismic activity experienced in May 2025. The company's Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland, and President & Chief Executive Officer, Marna Cloete, provided an update on the operational activities at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex.

The underground water levels in Kakula Mine have stabilized, with dewatering activities expected to commence in the third quarter of 2025 [1]. Additional underground pumping capacity, totaling approximately 4,400 litres per second, has been installed to maintain the stabilized water levels [1]. This capacity is sufficient to manage the water inflow rates, which have stabilized at approximately 4,000 litres per second [1].

Mining activities on the western side of the Kakula Mine have resumed, with mobile equipment and mining crews returning underground [1]. The short-term mine plan has been updated to include recommendations from preliminary geotechnical findings, ensuring a safe restart of underground operations [1]. The Phase 1 and 2 concentrators continue to operate at approximately 50% of their combined capacity, processing ore from surface stockpiles [1]. The processing rate of the concentrators is expected to ramp up throughout the remainder of 2025 as mining on the western side of the Kakula Mine increases, supplemented by feed from ore stockpiles [1].

Mining on the eastern side of the Kakula Mine is expected to commence soon, with activities focused on developing access drives to a new mining area east of the existing mine workings [1]. Development to the new mining area will be isolated from the dewatering activities on the same side of the mine [1]. Dewatering the eastern side of the Kakula Mine is expected to commence in August 2025 and be complete during the fourth quarter [1].

The frequency of seismic activity has decreased since the initial reports in May 2025, and the company is working with world-leading experts to review medium- and long-term mine plans [1]. The Phase 1 and 2 concentrators are expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2025, and the on-site copper smelter is anticipated to start up in September 2025, with the first anode expected in October 2025 [1].

Ivanhoe Mines has also ordered five high-capacity pumps, each rated at 650 litres per second, to dewater the eastern side of the Kakula Mine [1]. The pumps will be deployed in pairs down existing shaft infrastructure, accessing the deepest sections of the Kakula Mine [1]. The company is committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of its operations, with a focus on minimizing environmental impact and maximizing production.

References:
[1] https://www.ivanhoemines.com/news-stories/news-release/ivanhoe-mines-announces-restart-of-underground-mining-operations-on-western-side-of-kakula-mine-on-june-7-2025/