Ivanhoe Mines has lowered its near-term copper production outlook for the Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following an updated independent technical study.
The revised report now estimates copper anode production of 290,000 to 330,000 tonnes in 2026, down from earlier projections. Output for 2027 has also been reduced to 380,000 to 420,000 tonnes, reflecting adjustments to the company’s development and production plans.
Kamoa-Kakula remains one of the world’s highest-grade large-scale copper projects and is considered a key contributor to future global supply, particularly as the market faces limited new project development.
Despite the near-term revision, Ivanhoe Mines continues to target annual production exceeding 500,000 tonnes from 2028, as part of its long-term growth strategy.
The updated study places total mineral reserves at 466 million tonnes of ore, with an average grade of 2.82% copper, containing approximately 13.1 million tonnes of copper.
Copper demand is expected to remain strong, driven by its critical role in power infrastructure, construction, electric vehicles and the rapid expansion of data centres supporting artificial intelligence technologies.
Following the report’s recommendations, the company has initiated work on a new feasibility study, expected to be completed within 12 months. Additional drilling and geological mapping are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
