Ivanhoe Mines produces first copper anodes at Africa’s largest smelter

Ivanhoe Mines has achieved first copper anode production at the Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking a major milestone in the project’s transition from commissioning to early operations.

The first anodes were produced on December 29, 2025, about five weeks after the smelter heat-up began and one week after copper concentrate was introduced into the furnace.

The achievement advances Ivanhoe Mines’ strategy to expand downstream processing and increase in-country value addition.

With an annualised capacity of about 500,000 tonnes of 99.7% pure copper anodes, the Kamoa-Kakula facility is the largest copper smelter in Africa.

It processes copper concentrate from the Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators at the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex, with excess concentrate treated under tolling agreements at the nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter.

Ivanhoe Mines expects the smelter to continue ramping up through 2026, targeting full annualised production by year-end. Due to the processing of existing concentrate stockpiles, copper sales in 2026 are projected to exceed production.

Commissioning activities included the successful start-up of the furnace, dryers, boilers, and acid plant, with operating temperatures reaching about 1,250°C.

The facility is supported by an uninterruptible power supply system, while a 60-megawatt solar power plant with battery storage is under construction to strengthen energy security.

The smelter has also produced its first sulphuric acid, with output expected to reach up to 700,000 tonnes annually once fully operational, supporting local mining activities.

Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland, described the development as a defining moment, noting that the smelter represents a $1.1 billion investment and positions Kamoa-Kakula as a globally competitive, fully integrated copper producer while enhancing local economic value in the DRC.