Ivanhoe Mines has challenged a statement from Zijin Mining regarding the recent seismic activity at the Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a report by Reuters.
The Kakula complex, recognised as Africa’s largest copper producer, produced 437,000 tonnes last year.
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Zijin Mining had mentioned in a statement: “multiple roof-falling and rib-spalling in the eastern section of the [Kakula] mine,” but Ivanhoe Mines has refuted this claim.
Ivanhoe Mines said: “Preliminary indications suggest that seismic activity… resulted in a redistribution of forces underground and caused ‘scaling’, or rock falls, from the sidewalls of certain mining areas.”
The company has emphasised that the seismic event led to a temporary suspension of operations due to safety precautions, with no injuries reported.
Ivanhoe Mines focused on the safety of its workforce, successfully evacuating all personnel and securing mobile equipment.
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By GlobalDataIvanhoe Mines was quoted as saying: “The operational teams are currently focused on safely repairing damage caused to the cables and pipework that support the underground pumping infrastructure.”
This response comes after Zijin Mining Group’s earlier warning about the seismic incident potentially affecting the mine’s production targets for 2025.
Ivanhoe Min has stated it will assess the situation before making any revisions to its production guidance.
Additionally, Zijin Mining is reportedly in talks to acquire shares in Zangge Mining, a lithium producer based in Qinghai, China, with a market value of 46.6bn yuan ($6.4bn).
This potential acquisition is part of Zijin’s strategy to capitalise on the growing demand for battery materials by strengthening its presence in the global lithium market.
