KAKULA COPPER MINE UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES SIGNIFICANTL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Updated:2020.07.07
From:Industrial Investment Department
  |
KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX:IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced today that underground development at the Kakula Copper Mine continues to exceed expectations with more than 17 kilometres now complete, which is 5.1 kilometres ahead of schedule. In June, the mining team achieved 1,729 metres of underground development – 575 metres ahead of plan for the month. 
 
Regarding the mine construction, Kakula’s decline conveyor system that will transport ore from underground to surface now is operational. The conveyor system has the capacity to transport 2,000 tonnes of ore per hour from underground to surface. The conveyor system substantially shortens the haulage distance for the mine’s truck fleet; significantly increasing productivity, and lowering mining and maintenance costs.
  
First ore being dumped to the underground ore bin (Left) and
transport through rock handling system to the surface (Right)
 
The construction progress on the processing plant and other surface infrastructure remains on track for initial production in Q3 2021.