[Kipushi Production Update: Steady Ramp-Up at the Concentrator]
Ivanhoe Mines recently provided an update on the production dynamics of its Kipushi zinc mine, reporting a steady increase in processing capacity at the concentrator. In January 2025, the concentrator achieved a record production of approximately 16,000 metric tonnes of zinc in concentrate, while February’s output stood at around 11,900 metric tonnes of zinc in concentrate, reflecting the shorter month.
Based on the current production trend, Kipushi’s annualized output for 2025 is approaching 180,000 tonnes, aligning with the lower end of the previously disclosed annual guidance range of 180,000 to 240,000 metric tonnes of zinc in concentrate. Since 2025, the average zinc recovery rate at Kipushi has reached approximately 88%, with zinc concentrate grades at around 53%.
By the end of February, the concentrator successfully reached its nameplate processing capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day, with expectations for further improvements in both production rates and recovery levels in the coming months. The debottlenecking program is now progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed by Q3 2025.
Kipushi is set to maintain its annual production target of over 250,000 metric tonnes of zinc in concentrate. The concentrator’s ramp-up progress remains solid, with the debottlenecking set to enhance operational efficiency, Kipushi is poised to become one of the world’s key sources of zinc supply.
