Kamoa-Kakula leads emissions

Ivanhoe Mines Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the world’s lowest carbon-emitting major copper mine on a Scope 1 and 2 basis, as confirmed by research conducted by Skarn and WSP Group.

Kamoa-Kakula has high-grade orebodies with an average head grade of 5.5% copper in 2022, which is roughly ten times higher than the estimated average global head grade, of 0.6%. To put it simply, it has to extract and process much less rock to produce a tonne of copper.

And that processing also counts with the power grid in the? DRC being among the world’s cleanest, with 99.5% of its grid power generated from hydroelectricity.

These factors helped Kamoa-Kakula achieve an emissions intensity of just 0.16tCO2e/t of contained copper produced, in 2022, placing it almost at the bottom of Skarn’s GHG emissions curve, well ahead of the top ten largest copper mines. Scale may bring cost economies, but it does not always bring emissions economies.

“The achievements at Kamoa-Kakula demonstrate that mining can be re-invented to sustainably provide the metal that we so desperately need, without compounding the problem of global warming, and in harmony with our employees, local communities, government partners and stakeholders,” said Ivanhoe founder and executive co-chair Robert Friedland.

But even better and cleaner performance is just around the corner. Ivanhoe said the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from Kamoa-Kakula are set to reduce by 46% following the completion of a 500,000tpy on-site smelter. This is due to be on stream from the December quarter of 2024 and is expected to be the fourth lowest carbon-emitting copper smelter in the world.

The complex could receive another emissions boost when mineral trader Trafigura brings the Lobito Rail Corridor Trafigura into operation by 2027. This is being built with Chinese assistance and is being supported by the USA, European Union and G7 nations.? In addition to providing a convenient transportation solution, the Lobito Atlantic Railway is set to provide another differentiator.

“It will have an electric locomotive and going downhill from Kamoa-Kakula to Lobito in Angola it will generate electricity, and then it comes back empty, so its scope 3 emissions, will be next to nothing. Nothing will match the Central African Copper Belt for scope 3 emissions,” Friedland told Skarn Bulletin.

Makoko

And more is to come from Ivanhoe and the Western Forelands which host Kamoa-Kakula. The company has just announced maiden resource estimates at Makoko and Kiala, some 20km from Kamoa-Kakula and on concessions through which the Lobito rail line passes.

Makoko hosts an indicated resource of 16Mt grading 3.55% copper and an inferred resource of 154Mt grading 1.97% copper, at a 1.5% copper cut-off. Kiala hosts an indicated resource of 5Mt grading 3.56% copper, also at a 1.5% copper cut-off.

Makoko has grade, hydropower and logistics already in place, and part of the orebody could be leachable.

“We think we can heap leach the lower grade sections because we have a smelter. It will produce [a lot] of sulphuric acid, we have flat land [for the leach pads], there is no clay in the ore, and the copper mineralisation is very fine grain. It should leach like a dream. If we can heap leach these, there will be almost no emissions. It would just be crushing and making cathodes, which are cheaper to ship,” said Friedland.

Skarn's copper mine, smelter and refinery analysis includes detailed breakdown of GHG emissions and energy inputs, by asset, with forecasts to 2025 for copper mines

Data is presented from the mine or smelter and refinery perspective, covering the emissions up to production of LME-grade refined metal for more than 90% of global production

Physical production parameters are presented, including ore mined, SxEw leached and milled, ore grades, strip ratios and by-product metal production

Emission data is presented as; total tonnes of CO2e and emissions intensity, stated as tonnes of CO2e per tonne of copper equivalent metal production.

For copper E0?and E1?emissions are defined as follows:?

E0: Scope 1 and 2 emissions relating to the mine site or smelter/refinery.?

E1: For mines, E0?plus emissions from transport, smelting and refining.

?For more information please contact Kate Cummings

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