Operations

State of the Art Kamoa Direct-to-Blister flash Copper Smelter

The smelter is projected to be one of the largest, single-line copper flash smelters in the world, and the largest in Africa. The smelter will have a nameplate production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of 99+%-pure blister copper anodes.

The 100-hectare smelter complex is under construction and will be commissioned in January 2025.

Location

Kamoa Copper’s license area spans 397.4 square kilometres and is situated approximately 25 kilometres from Kolwezi in the DRC.

Ore Bodies

The Kamoa Copper Mining Complex encompasses four ore bodies: Kakula South and West Mines (currently in production), Kansoko (in production), Kakula North (planned), and Kamoa 1 (currently in production) and Kamoa 2 Mines and Kamoa North (planned).

Operational Milestones

Kakula South and West Mines: Currently in production, Kakula mine is the flagship operation within the complex, boasting significant reserves of high-grade copper ore.

Kansoko Mine: This is the mine on which development first began in 2014 and will underpin Phase 3.

Kakula North, Kamoa 1 and 2 Mines and Kamoa North Mines: Planned for future development, these mines hold substantial copper resources vital to the long-term expansion plans of the complex.

The completion of the phase one concentrator in May 2021, ahead of schedule and within budget, marked a significant milestone. Construction of the phase two concentrator commenced around the same time.

The completion of the Mwadingusha hydro power station in September 2021, in collaboration with the DRC’s state-owned utility, SNEL, and the agreement to rehabilitate Turbine 5 of the Inga 2 hydropower station signify our commitment to sustainable energy solutions. These projects collectively generate over 250 megawatts of clean power for the DRC grid.

Phased Expansion Plans

The expansion of concentrator processing facilities unfolds in two phases (Phase 3 and Phase 4). In August 2024, the completion of the Phase 3 concentrator was announced, fed by existing and newly developed mines in the area. As part of Phase 3, construction of a direct-to-blister flash smelter is underway. Phase 4, scheduled for completion in 2030, encompasses the construction of an additional 5.0 Mtpa concentrator, augmenting overall production capacity.

In April 2022, commercial production at the phase two concentrator began, doubling the processing capacity.

In February 2023, Kamoa Copper’s debottlenecking program boosted the nameplate processing capacity of Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators.

Kamoa Copper has finalised a term sheet for a Reserved Capacity Agreement with the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor, establishing terms for transporting minerals. The agreement grants Kamoa Copper the right to transport an agreed-upon range of blister-anode or concentrate annually along the corridor. The agreement spans a minimum of five years, starting in 2025 after a ramp-up year in 2024. Transportation costs via the Lobito Corridor are projected to be lower than current market rates for trucking along existing export routes. Additionally, rates are expected to decrease with increased transportation volume along the railway.

In January 2024, the first trial shipment of copper concentrate from Kamoa Copper arrived in Angola by rail at the Atlantic Ocean port of Lobito via the Lobito Corridor. The shorter distance to the port of Lobito, and the more efficient rail transport, significantly reduce energy consumption and help reduce Kamoa Copper’s carbon footprint.