Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines has announced a temporary suspension of operations at the Kakula underground mine within the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following recent seismic activity.

Seismic disturbances in the eastern section of the Kakula mine prompted the management team of Kamoa Copper to halt underground operations on 18 May.

The company has prioritised the safety of its workforce, ensuring all personnel were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported. Mobile equipment has also been removed from the site.

The Kamoa-Kakula mining complex is operated by Kamoa Copper, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining Group, each holding a 39.6% stake, Crystal River Global, holding 0.8%, and the DRC Government, holding the remaining 20% stake.

In response to the seismic events, senior management and geotechnical experts have initiated a comprehensive inspection of the affected area.

The western section of the mine has been assessed and deemed safe, with operations expected to recommence shortly.

However, the ongoing evaluation will extend to the eastern section to determine the potential impact on underground infrastructure such as pumping systems.

The phase one and two concentrators at the mine are currently operating at reduced capacity, processing ore from existing surface stockpiles.

The stockpiles, as of 30 April 2025, contain approximately 3.8 million tonnes of high and medium-grade ore with an average copper grade of 3.2%.

Mining activities at the Kamoa underground mine and the operations of the adjoining phase three concentrator, which started commercial production in August 2024, remain unaffected by the seismic events at Kakula.