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Kolwezi, DRC – Ivanhoe Mines, the Canada-headquartered mining powerhouse, has been forced to pull its 2025 production and cost guidance for its prized Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The unsettling decision comes in the wake of renewed seismic activity that has plunged the Kakula mine’s underground operations into an uncertain hiatus.
The copper giant’s shares faced a tumultuous start to the week as news broke that underground mining at Kakula was suspended again on Sunday. Persistent seismic tremors at the site prompted the immediate evacuation of all personnel to the surface and the removal of critical equipment, a stark reminder of the unpredictable forces at play deep beneath the earth. Remarkably, no injuries have been reported, a testament to the swift safety protocols in place.
While the subterranean work remains on hold, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators at the surface continue to churn, drawing on existing ore stockpiles. This provides a crucial buffer, though concerns linger about the longevity of these reserves should the shutdown be prolonged.
“While underground mining operations are temporarily suspended at Kakula, we are focusing our efforts on maintaining pumping and water management infrastructure, including accelerating procurement for dewatering equipment from the surface,” Ivanhoe Mines President and CEO Marna Cloete stated on Monday. She added a resolute commitment: “We are working around the clock with the world’s foremost geotechnical experts to establish the cause of the issues we faced and how we will resolve them.”
Preliminary assessments suggest that the seismic activity could persist for several weeks, severely limiting access to the mine and potentially extending the shutdown. Adding to the complex challenges, water inflows into the mine have surged, a direct consequence of the disrupted underground infrastructure. Ivanhoe, with the backing of its joint venture partners Zijin Mining and CITIC Metal, is now scrambling to implement expanded dewatering plans to stabilise conditions.
Remediation efforts are already underway, particularly in the shallower western sections of the mine, where dewatering capacity currently stands at approximately 1,000 litres per second. The company’s ambitious target is to triple this to over 3,000 litres per second, with plans also in motion to install permanent, high-capacity surface pumping systems across its various mine sites.
Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s visionary founder and executive co-chairperson, adopted a philosophical tone amidst the crisis. “We are going to gain wisdom and experience from the events that have unfolded in the past week,” he remarked. “What has transpired will give us valuable insight into managing geotechnical conditions and maintaining critical pumping infrastructure, which will allow us to future-proof and safely restart mining operations at Kakula . . . and such learnings will be applied in earnest to our activities at Kamoa and in the Western Forelands.”
Crucially, the Kamoa underground mine and its Phase 3 concentrator remain unaffected by the tremors and continue to operate normally, offering a glimmer of stability amidst the uncertainty at Kakula.
Friedland drew a compelling analogy, likening the current challenges to the journey of innovation. “I remind readers that SpaceX, today responsible for approximately 90% of total payload launched into space by humanity, did not attain this status without numerous setbacks,” he highlighted. “Each setback brought their team new knowledge, making the mission stronger… And so we approach our operations at Kamoa-Kakula with the same mindset.”
Ivanhoe Mines has reiterated its unwavering commitment to restoring Kakula’s underground operations as soon as safety can be assured, promising to learn from this seismic setback and emerge stronger. For now, however, the financial markets and the global copper industry will be closely watching the tremors in the DRC.
