Ivanhoe Mines increases DRC copper resources by 30%

Ivanhoe Mines copper resources Western Forelands Makoko District mining exploration

Ivanhoe Mines has announced a 30% increase in the mineral resource estimate for the Makoko District, located within its Western Forelands Exploration Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The updated figures indicate 42 million tonnes of indicated resources at 2.66% copper, alongside 612 million tonnes of inferred resources at 1.80% copper. This represents approximately 12 million tonnes of contained copper.

The project area, covering roughly 2,427 square kilometers, is adjacent to the existing Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Lualaba province. The proximity to Kamoa-Kakula, which produced 388,838 tonnes of copper concentrate in 2025, is expected to facilitate shared infrastructure and expertise.

Following the announcement, Ivanhoe Mines shares saw a significant rally, rising over 10%. The company aims to conduct a pre-feasibility study by 2027, exploring a development model that combines shallow open-pit mining with underground operations to optimize costs and accelerate production.

Entities

Democratic Republic of the Congo · Ivanhoe Mines · Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex · Makoko District · Robert Friedland · Western Forelands Exploration Project

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Executive Co-Chairman Robert Friedland stated that geologists have found over 55 million tonnes of copper in the basin. resourceworld.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ivanhoe Mines shares rose by 10.70% following the resource announcement. resourceworld.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The project includes 612 million tonnes of inferred resources at 1.80% copper. afrikactus.com · resourceworld.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The resource update is based on a 94,500-meter drilling program conducted in 2026. afrikactus.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Makoko District contains 42 million tonnes of indicated resources at 2.66% copper. afrikactus.com · resourceworld.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The total contained copper in the district is approximately 12 million tonnes. resourceworld.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The company aims to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the project in 2027. afrikactus.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Ivanhoe Mines increased its copper resource estimate for the Western Forelands project by 30%. afrikactus.com · resourceworld.com

Sources

Cuivre RDC : Western Forelands accélère chez Ivanhoe [afrikactus.com]

3 days ago

DRC’s cobalt exports contain unreported uranium – our study estimates the global nuclear risk [www.ebnewsdaily.co.za]

1 day ago

RDC : Avec un bond de 30% de ses ressources, le gisement de Makoko s'impose comme un nouveau géant du cuivre [www.sikafinance.com]

3 days ago

Ivanhoe shares rally on DRC copper resource update – Resource World Magazine [resourceworld.com]

3 days ago