Ivanhoe Mines Launches Africa’s Largest Copper Smelter

Ivanhoe Mines Powers Up Africa’s Largest Copper Smelter

On November 21, 2025, Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) launched the largest copper smelter in Africa, marking a significant milestone for the Kamoa-Kakula mining project. The new smelter, with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum (tpa), will lead global copper smelting with cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices.

This achievement follows years of development since the discovery of high-grade copper at Kamoa-Kakula in 2008. Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s founder, attended the opening ceremony, emphasizing the project’s transformative impact. “This is not just a ritual; it is the passing of a torch representing transformative change,” Friedland said, underscoring the project’s global significance.

Green and Sustainable Copper Smelting at Kamoa-Kakula

The Kamoa-Kakula smelter stands as both the largest and one of the most environmentally friendly in Africa. It uses direct-to-blister flash smelting technology from Metso Outotec, designed to minimize emissions. The facility will run on renewable hydroelectric power from the nearby Inga II dam, making it one of the most sustainable copper smelters worldwide.

Ivanhoe plans to feed its first copper concentrate into the smelter by the end of 2025. The goal is to produce 99.7%-pure blister copper anodes. By 2026, the smelter will operate at full capacity, processing concentrates from the Phase 1, 2, and 3 concentrators. Any excess concentrates will go to the nearby Lualaba smelter in Kolwezi for processing.

Kamoa-Kakula’s Growing Impact on the Global Copper Market

The Kamoa-Kakula project is rapidly becoming a key player in the global copper market. Ivanhoe’s inventory on-site stood at about 37,000 tonnes of copper concentrates before production began. As smelting operations ramp up in 2026, the company aims to reduce this inventory to 17,000 tonnes. At full capacity, the smelter will efficiently process copper concentrates, reinforcing Ivanhoe’s leadership in copper production.

Currently, Ivanhoe Mines’ shares trade at around C$14.70, with a market capitalization of C$20.8 billion ($14.9 billion). The Kamoa-Kakula smelter’s successful operation is expected to boost the company’s valuation and have a lasting positive impact on the African mining sector.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Ivanhoe Mines’ launch of Africa’s largest and greenest copper smelter represents a major leap for both the African mining industry and the global copper market. The use of renewable energy and advanced smelting technology not only enhances sustainability but also sets a new environmental benchmark for the copper sector. As global demand for copper rises—driven by electrification and green technologies—the Kamoa-Kakula smelter will play a vital role in securing supply. This project is poised to attract more investment and solidify Ivanhoe’s position as a global copper leader.