News & Media

Kipushi is not a new discovery. Mining began in 1924, and the operation produced approximately 60 Mt of ore grading 11% zinc and 7% copper before being placed on care and maintenance in 1993. Its long history also includes the production of lead and germanium, a metal that has gained strategic importance because of its applications in fibre-optic systems, infrared optics, electronics and other advanced technologies.

The mine's redevelopment demonstrates the potential of reactivating established African mining assets when geological quality, investment and technical expertise converge.

Ivanhoe acquired its initial 68% interest in the project in November 2011, while Gécamines held the remaining 32%. Under a revised joint venture agreement, Gécamines' interest increased to 38% in the first quarter of 2025, leaving Ivanhoe with 62%. The ownership structure provides a direct role for the DRC's state mining company in the operation.

The redevelopment agreement was finalised in late 2022, setting the stage for construction of a new concentrator and the return of the mine to production. The resulting operation is built around the exceptional grade of the deposit. Ivanhoe's published mine profile reports an average zinc grade of 35.34% over the first five years of production, positioning Kipushi among the highest-grade zinc operations globally.

Kipushi's timeline: From historic mine to production growth:

1924 Mining begins
Kipushi begins its long operating history in the Central African Copperbelt.

1993 Operations suspended
The mine is placed on care and maintenance after decades of production.

2011 Ivanhoe enters the project
Ivanhoe acquires a 68% interest, beginning a long-term redevelopment effort.

2022 Restart agreement finalised
Ivanhoe and Gécamines agree on a path to return the historic mine to production.

2024 First concentrate produced
The new concentrator produces its first zinc concentrate in June, and the DRC's President Félix Tshisekedi officially reopens the mine in November.

2025 Capacity expands
Debottlenecking raises concentrator throughput capacity by 20% to 960,000 tonnes of ore per year. Zinc production reaches 203,168 t.

2026 Production records continue
May output reaches 25,677 t of zinc in concentrate, followed by record quarterly production in Q2 and a further increase in Q3. Full-year guidance remains 240,000–290,000 t.

Production growth puts Kipushi on the global map

The restart has progressed from commissioning to a substantial increase in output. The concentrator was completed in 2024, with the first ore introduced on 31 May and first zinc concentrate produced on 14 June. The initial design capacity was approximately 800,000 t of ore annually, before a debottlenecking programme expanded planned throughput by 20% to 960,000 tpa.

The mine produced 203,168 t of zinc in concentrate in 2025, meeting its revised production guidance. Improved mining rates, higher-grade feed and concentrator optimisation helped lift production during the second half of the year. Momentum continued in 2026.

Ivanhoe reported a record 25,677 t of zinc in concentrate in May, equivalent to an annualised production rate of approximately 308,000 t. During the month, the concentrator processed a record 72,003 t of ore, achieving an average zinc recovery rate of 93% and a feed grade of 36.2%. The company subsequently reported another quarterly record in the second quarter, producing 70,177 t of zinc in concentrate. In its October update, Ivanhoe said third-quarter output had risen to 77,147 t, a 10% increase from the preceding quarter.

Kipushi by the numbers

• 2025 zinc production 203,168 t
• 2026 production guidance 240–290 kt
• Concentrator capacity 960,000 t/year
• Average zinc grade, first five years 35.34%

The company's 2026 guidance of 240,000 to 290,000 t would place Kipushi among the world's leading zinc mines by production. Achieving the upper end of that range depends not only on mining and processing performance, but also on the ability to move concentrate reliably to customers.

Unlocking value beyond zinc

For Ivanhoe, Kipushi's significance extends beyond the headline production figures. In its second-quarter 2026 results announcement, Ivanhoe founder and executive co-chairman Robert Friedland highlighted the operation's performance and its potential contribution to the supply of strategic metals. 

“Kipushi delivered another outstanding quarter, achieving yet another production record as zinc prices reach multi-year highs.” Friedland also pointed to the opportunity to recover additional value from the deposit's critical-mineral content: “We continue to examine ways to unlock the high concentrations of gallium and germanium at Kipushi, two metals critical to the resilience of global supply chains.”

These statements frame the next phase of Kipushi's development. While zinc is the principal commercial product, the presence of germanium, gallium, copper, silver and lead gives the deposit a broader strategic profile. Germanium is used in fibre optics, infrared technologies and specialised semiconductor applications. Gallium is important in compound semiconductors used in power electronics, communications and other advanced technologies.

However, the presence of these metals in the orebody does not automatically mean that they can be recovered economically at scale. Additional metallurgical work, processing choices, market conditions and commercial arrangements will determine how much value Ivanhoe and its DRC partner can ultimately extract from these by-products. That distinction matters as governments and manufacturers seek to diversify supply chains for minerals essential to technology, energy systems and industrial development.

For the DRC, Kipushi illustrates an opportunity to move beyond the volume-based narrative of mineral extraction and towards greater value from a more diverse mineral portfolio.

Technology, throughput and the underground development challenge

The concentrator's performance is only one part of Kipushi's growth strategy. Sustaining higher production requires a consistent supply of ore from underground, efficient material handling and reliable power.

Ivanhoe's processing circuit combines dense-media separation, milling and flotation. The company targets zinc recoveries of up to 96% and an average concentrate grade of approximately 55% zinc. These are operating targets rather than guaranteed results, and actual performance depends on feed characteristics and plant conditions.

The 2025 debottlenecking programme increased concentrator capacity from 800,000 to 960,000 tpa of ore. This upgrade was important because it allowed the company to increase production without having to construct an entirely new processing plant.

Underground development remains equally important. Ivanhoe is advancing access to the high-grade Big Zinc and Southern Zinc zones through decline development and lateral tunnelling, while ongoing exploration drilling aims to identify extensions to mineralisation beneath and beyond historically mined areas. The objective is to provide greater flexibility in accessing ore and to support the operation's longer-term production profile.

Energy security and environmental performance

Power reliability is another factor influencing Kipushi's performance.

Ivanhoe's 2025 production update identified instability in the DRC electricity grid as an operational constraint. The company installed an additional 6 MW of backup generation during the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing total onsite backup capacity to 20 MW. The additional capacity was intended to help maintain production during grid disruptions.

The company has also outlined plans for a hybrid solar photovoltaic facility designed to supply approximately 10 MW of continuous baseload power. In its second-quarter 2026 update, Ivanhoe expected to award the project tender in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the facility targeted to become operational in the second quarter of 2028. These are announced plans and remain subject to implementation.

Environmental performance is another part of the mine's positioning. Ivanhoe has reported that Kipushi is expected to rank among the world's lowest-emission zinc operations on a Scope 1 and 2 basis, reflecting direct emissions and purchased-energy emissions per unit of production. Such comparisons should be understood in the context of the assessment's methodology and reporting period.

The mine's tailings infrastructure is also being expanded. In June 2026, Ivanhoe said construction of its second tailings storage facility was more than 90% complete, with the first deposition expected from October. The facility's design incorporates lining intended to comply with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.

Together, these measures address the practical challenges of expanding an energy-intensive underground operation while maintaining environmental controls.

The commercial test: Getting concentrate to market

Production growth does not automatically translate into sales. Kipushi's experience in 2026 has highlighted the importance of logistics and market access alongside mining performance.

In its second-quarter results, Ivanhoe reported that logistical constraints had reduced zinc sales volumes and increased unsold concentrate inventories by approximately 14,000 t of payable zinc. The company expected to destock these inventories during the second half of 2026.

The issue illustrates a broader challenge for mining operations in landlocked parts of Central Africa: output must be matched by dependable transport, export infrastructure and downstream processing capacity.

Kipushi has previously secured concentrate offtake agreements with CITIC Metal and Trafigura. In its July 2024 announcement, Ivanhoe said the agreements covered approximately two-thirds of the mine's zinc concentrate over a five-year term, with shipments expected to reach international smelters through export routes including Walvis Bay and Durban.

For the DRC, the next question is how to capture more value from the minerals produced. Gécamines' increased stake in Kipushi gives the state-owned company a larger ownership position, while its chairman, Guy-Robert Lukama Nkunzi, has explicitly raised the prospect of local processing.

In the company's 2024 restart announcement, Lukama said the mine's potential extended beyond zinc and noted that Gécamines could seek to acquire project products to support local processing.

Realising that ambition will depend on the economics of local smelting and refining, access to reliable power, suitable infrastructure and the availability of technology and investment. The strategic value of germanium and gallium could strengthen the case for examining more sophisticated processing options, but it does not remove those practical requirements.

Can Kipushi sustain its momentum?

Kipushi has already demonstrated that an established mine can be revitalised through a combination of high-grade resources, new processing infrastructure and sustained investment. Its production growth also gives the DRC a stronger position in the international zinc market at a time when reliable supplies of industrial metals remain strategically important.

Three priorities will shape the next phase of development:

Kipushi's story is therefore about more than restarting a mine. It is about how a high-grade African deposit can become a long-term industrial asset - and whether that asset can deliver value across the supply chain, from the mine and its local workforce to the DRC's wider economy.

The next milestone will not simply be another production record. It will be the demonstration that Kipushi can sustain high output, manage its logistical constraints and turn its unusual mineral endowment into durable commercial and economic benefits.