Ivanhoe Mines has temporarily halted underground operations at the Kakula Mine after seismic activity was detected in the eastern section. All employees were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.

While mining activities at the Kamoa underground mine and processing at the adjacent Phase 3 concentrator remain unaffected, the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators are currently operating at reduced capacity, utilising ore from surface stockpiles.

The company said once underground operations resume, ore from the western section of the Kakula Mine will also be processed. As of April 30, 2025, Kamoa-Kakula’s surface stockpiles of high- and medium-grade ore were estimated at approximately 3.8 million tonnes, with a blended average grade of 3.2% copper. This incident led the company to remove mobile equipment from the affected underground workings as a precautionary measure.

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As part of ongoing inspections and safety measures, senior management and geotechnical specialists from Ivanhoe Mines have been mobilised to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Kakula underground mine. The inspection process began on May 20 and is focused on assessing the impact of seismic activity, particularly in the eastern section, where underground infrastructure such as pumping systems may be affected. Initial findings indicate that seismic activity has significantly reduced over the past 24 hours, and the western section of the Kakula mine has now been declared safe for mining operations to resume imminently.

As the market and production outlook is concerned, Ivanhoe has stated that the current situation is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s overall operations, as the processing plants continue to operate using existing ore stockpiles. The company maintains its copper production guidance for the year, following a record production of over 50,000 tonnes from the Kamoa-Kakula complex last month. Ivanhoe Mines’ stock experienced a nearly 9% drop following the announcement, reflecting market concerns over the temporary suspension.

The company emphasised that it will continue inspecting the eastern section of the Kakula mine and will provide further updates as more information becomes available and underground operations are safely restored.