DRC Ignites Africa's Largest Smelter
Kamoa-Kakula is home to DRC's newest hopes of minerals-driven prosperity
Ivanhoe Mines has poured its first 99.7%-pure copper anodes at the massive Kamoa-Kakula direct-to-blister smelter just weeks after startup, marking a pivotal turnaround for the world’s fastest-growing copper complex following last year’s seismic setback.
Here are 9 fascinating facts about Kamoa-Kakula:
Ivanhoe Mines poured its first copper anodes at Kamoa-Kakula’s smelter on Dec. 29, 2025, igniting Africa’s biggest copper processor just weeks after startup.
The 500,000-tonne-per-year facility churns out 99.7% pure anodes, slashing transport costs and boosting DRC’s export value amid record copper prices.
Seismic shocks flooded parts of Kakula in 2025, but dewatering now tops 70% on the west side, restarting high-grade mining faster than expected.
2026 output eyes 380,000-420,000 tonnes, with sales outpacing production by 20,000 tonnes as stockpiles melt into premium anodes.
Thousands of jobs and infrastructure upgrades—like roads, schools, and power grids—are turbocharging DRC’s economy, with royalties funding national growth.
Hydropower and solar energize operations, while closed-loop water recycling shields local biodiversity, setting a green benchmark for African mining.
Boasting 6.5% average ore grades, Kamoa-Kakula’s low-cost edge could redefine global supply chains for EVs and renewables.
As copper deficits loom at 600,000 tonnes in 2026, the project’s ramp-up promises relief in a volatile market hungry for clean energy metals.
AI-driven automation and satellite monitoring slash emissions and boost efficiency, minimizing surface disruption in this underground powerhouse.
Aiming for 550,000 tonnes annualized mid-term, Kamoa-Kakula positions DRC as a copper kingpin, feeding the world’s copper-hunger in the shift to sustainable tech.