Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines reports a record 250,000 tonnes of development ore grading 4.85% copper produced in November at its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kallanish reports.

Those results from the Kakula and Kansoko mines are accelerating both grade and tonnage of copper ore added to the project’s surface stockpiles. The tonnage was 29% higher than what had been achieved in October and the monthly copper grade increased from 4.01% to 4.85%

Underground development in November totalled 2,163 metres completed. That brings the total completed to 26.8 kilometres, 9 km ahead of plan. The project has gained access to Kakula’s +8% copper ore in the centre of the deposit with new access tunnels.

In November, Kakula’s central connection development produced 93,000 t 4.95% copper from the southern decline including 41,000 t of high-grade ore grading 7.82% copper and 124,000 t grading 5.03% copper from the northern decline.

The project is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine and when fully operational will be the world’s second biggest copper complex in the world, producing 19m t/y of ore and 800,000 t of copper.

“November was a great month for mine development,” says Mark Farren, ceo of Kamoa Copper in a statement.

The Kansoko Mine in the Kamoa Deposit is about 10 km north of the Kakula Mine.

The project’s first phase of mining and milling is about 63% complete with first copper concentrate production expected in July 2021. The first phase is projected to produce 3.8m t/y.

The project using drift-and-fill mining blocks is in the Kolwezi District of Linalaba in the DRC.

Pre-production stockpiles at Kamoa-Kakula now total 1.25m t grading 3.75% copper. Those stockpiles are projected to contain 46,700 t of copper. The company plans stockpiles containing 125,000 t of copper when production starts up in July 2021.

Current work under way includes connecting the mines with hydro-generated electricity from the national grid, synchronisation of the first six turbines at a refurbished power plant and commissioning the main surface rock-handling conveyor belt system, the company says.

The project is a joint venture involving Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Group (39.6%), Crystal River Glo0bal Ltd (0.8%) and ther DRC government (20%).

About 6,300 workers are employed in constructing the mines and related facilities.