Ivanhoe Mines Fires Up Africa’s Largest Copper Smelter

Kamoa-Kakula’s 500,000-tonnes-per-annum direct-to-blister copper smelter commenced the heat-up on November 21, 2025. Image: Ivanhoe

Bradley Riviera

Suppliers & Equipment Top Companies Africa Canada Copper

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) has officially ignited Africa’s largest and most advanced copper smelter at its flagship Kamoa-Kakula operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 500,000-tonnes-per-annum direct-to-blister facility commenced heat-up on November 21, 2025, marking a milestone in the continent’s copper beneficiation capacity.

A Landmark Ceremony

The inauguration was celebrated on site with community leaders and Ivanhoe founder Robert Friedland. In his remarks, Friedland described the event as “the passing of a torch representing transformative change at Kamoa-Kakula,” highlighting the journey from the discovery of high-grade copper in 2008 to the commissioning of a world-class smelting complex.

First Production by Year-End

Ivanhoe expects to feed its first concentrate into the smelter before the close of 2025, initiating production of blister copper anodes with a purity of 99.7%. The facility will prioritize processing concentrates from Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators, while any surplus will be treated at the nearby Lualaba smelter in Kolwezi.

Ahead of commissioning, the complex held an inventory of approximately 37,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. Ivanhoe projects that as the smelter ramps up through 2026, inventories will decline to around 17,000 tonnes, streamlining supply chains and boosting operational efficiency.

Largest and Greenest on the Continent

At full capacity, the Kamoa-Kakula smelter will stand as Africa’s largest copper processing facility. Ivanhoe emphasizes its environmental credentials, citing direct-to-blister flash smelting technology supplied by Metso Outotec and renewable hydroelectric power sourced from the Inga II dam. The company positions the project as a benchmark for sustainable copper production globally.

Market Snapshot

Shares of Ivanhoe Mines traded flat at C$14.70 following the announcement, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately C$20.8 billion ($14.9 billion).