Ivanhoe sets new monthly zinc record at Congo mine
2026-06-05 11:33:24 [Print]
Ivanhoe Mines has announced that its Kipushi zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo achieved a new monthly production record and remains on track to meet its full-year guidance.
The Vancouver-based miner said in a press release on Thursday that the mine, located 30 km southwest of Lubumbashi, produced 25,677 tonnes of zinc concentrates last month - beating its previous monthly record of 22,968 tonnes set in January by 12%.
In May, the Kipushi concentrators processed a record 72,003 tonnes of ore at an average recovery rate of 93%, with an average plant feed grade of 36.2% zinc.
Based on the May results, Kipushi's year-to-date zinc production is now estimated at 110,000 tonnes. If annualized, this production rate would fall near the midpoint of the company's 2026 guidance range of 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes.
Ivanhoe noted in the release that at this production rate, Kipushi would elevate its status to become the world's fourth-largest zinc producer this year.
The Kipushi mine - 62% owned by Ivanhoe and 38% by Gécamines, Congo's state mining company - returned to production in 2024, exactly 100 years after the operation first began. Prior to Ivanhoe's entry into the project in 2011, the Kipushi mine had been idle for nearly two decades.
The Vancouver-based miner said in a press release on Thursday that the mine, located 30 km southwest of Lubumbashi, produced 25,677 tonnes of zinc concentrates last month - beating its previous monthly record of 22,968 tonnes set in January by 12%.
In May, the Kipushi concentrators processed a record 72,003 tonnes of ore at an average recovery rate of 93%, with an average plant feed grade of 36.2% zinc.
Based on the May results, Kipushi's year-to-date zinc production is now estimated at 110,000 tonnes. If annualized, this production rate would fall near the midpoint of the company's 2026 guidance range of 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes.
Ivanhoe noted in the release that at this production rate, Kipushi would elevate its status to become the world's fourth-largest zinc producer this year.
The Kipushi mine - 62% owned by Ivanhoe and 38% by Gécamines, Congo's state mining company - returned to production in 2024, exactly 100 years after the operation first began. Prior to Ivanhoe's entry into the project in 2011, the Kipushi mine had been idle for nearly two decades.
Zinc Conc. 50%min CIF China TC
Unit:USD/mt
China zinc powder producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
