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On November 21, 2025, Ivanhoe Mines marked the heat-up of Kamoa-Kakula’s state-of-the-art, 500,000-tonne-per-annum direct-to-blister copper smelter – one of the most advanced facilities of its kind globally and the largest on the African continent.  The milestone was formally launched during a ceremonial opening at the smelter site, blending deep local tradition with world-class industrial innovation.

The opening ceremony began at a nearby traditional copper furnace, known locally as a lwanzo lwa mikuba, prepared by the Chief of Land Muvunda and his team in accordance with longstanding custom. Honourable Chief Musokantanda Sabuni Kafweku led a blessing, during which commemorative Katanga Crosses of copper were smelted- symbolizing continuity between the region’s heritage and its industrial future.

Following the blessing, Chief Musokantanda carried a ceremonial flame from the traditional furnace to the smelter site. The flame was handed to Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland, who then lit a ceremonial torch. The torch was then passed among senior leaders and members of the Kamoa Copper team who played pivotal roles in the smelter’s construction, before being placed inside the furnace to provide the ignition source for heat-up.

“The ceremony today is not just a ritual; it is the passing of a torch representing transformative change at Kamoa-Kakula,” said Mr. Friedland. “From a site where we first discovered high-grade copper in 2008, we now harness a fire blessed by tradition to power a facility that will set a new global standard for copper smelting.”

Kamoa-Kakula Managing Director Annebel Oosthuizen emphasized the collective effort behind the achievement.

“This day belongs to every Kamoa Copper employee. You built this… We fired it up. This is our collective success,” she said. “The fire we lit today is the light that will change the future—not just for Kamoa Copper, but for our community, our country, and the African continent.”

The heat-up of the smelter is advancing well, with furnace temperatures already reaching 800°C. This temperature will be maintained for approximately nine days to allow for “hot” commissioning of the boiler, steam systems, and concentrate dryer. In parallel, commissioning activities are underway for the furnace electrodes and the acid circuit.

The first feed of copper concentrate into the smelter is expected by the end of the year end, marking another critical step toward full integration of Kamoa-Kakula’s downstream processing capabilities.

The heat-up phase has commenced as installation of the smelter’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) facility nears completion. The 60-megawatt UPS is designed to provide up to two hours of instantaneous back-up power, safeguarding the smelter from voltage fluctuations on the domestic DRC grid. In addition, Kamoa-Kakula has approximately 180 megawatts of on-site diesel-powered back-up generation capacity.

Once operational, the smelter will prioritize processing concentrates from Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators. Any excess concentrate will be toll-treated at the nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter in Kolwezi.

Prior to start-up, on-site concentrate inventory contained approximately 37,000 tonnes of copper. As the smelter ramps up, total unsold copper in concentrate is expected to decline to approximately 17,000 tonnes during 2026.

Setting a New Standard for Copper Smelting

The commissioning of the direct-to-blister smelter represents a major step forward for Kamoa-Kakula, the Lualaba Province, and the broader Congolese mining industry. By enabling on-site conversion of concentrate into high-purity copper anodes, the smelter strengthens supply chain resilience, enhances value capture in-country, and supports the production of cleaner, responsibly produced copper for global markets.

As the furnace continues to heat and commissioning progresses, the flame lit on November 21 now burns as a powerful symbol of what comes next: a new global benchmark in modern, sustainable copper production.