Kipushi, Democratic Republic of Congo – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) has announced a monumental achievement at its Kipushi Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reporting a record-breaking 25,677 tonnes of zinc in concentrate produced in May. This remarkable performance not only sets a new benchmark for the operation but also positions Kipushi as a significant player in the global zinc market, especially as zinc prices approach four-year highs.
A Legacy of High-Grade Production
The Kipushi Mine, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (62%) and the DRC state-owned mining company Gécamines (38%), boasts a rich history as one of the world’s highest-grade zinc mines. Located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Lubumbashi in the Central African Copperbelt, Kipushi operated from 1924 to 1993, producing approximately 60 million tonnes grading 11% zinc and 7% copper, along with lead and germanium. After a period of care and maintenance, Ivanhoe Mines acquired its interest in 2011, and in late 2022, finalized an agreement with Gécamines to return Kipushi to production .
The new 800,000-tonne-per-annum concentrator facility, completed in May 2024, began producing concentrate in June 2024. This facility, incorporating dense media separation (DMS) and a milling and flotation circuit, is designed to achieve targeted recoveries of 96% and produce a concentrate averaging 55% contained zinc .
May’s Record-Breaking Performance
May 2026 proved to be an exceptional month for Kipushi. The production of 25,677 tonnes of zinc in concentrate surpassed the previous monthly record of 22,968 tonnes (set in January 2026) by a significant 12%. This achievement was underpinned by the concentrators milling a record 72,003 tonnes of ore at an impressive average recovery rate of 93%, with an average plant feed grade of 36.2% zinc .
Year-to-date, Kipushi has produced approximately 110,000 tonnes of zinc, placing it firmly on track to meet the midpoint of its 2026 production guidance range of 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes. The annualised production rate achieved in May alone is equivalent to 308,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate, further highlighting the mine’s robust operational capacity .
Operational Excellence and Sustainable Practices
Beyond concentrate production, mining operations also demonstrated strong performance in May, with 85,811 tonnes of ore mined and hoisted to the surface. At month-end, high-grade run-of-mine (ROM) stockpiles contained approximately 12,000 tonnes of ore at an estimated grade of 37% zinc, while lower-grade stockpiles held 254,000 tonnes of ore with an average grade of approximately 22% zinc .
Ivanhoe Mines is not only focused on production but also on sustainable mining practices. The Kipushi Mine is powered by renewable hydro-generated electricity, positioning it to be among the world’s lowest Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emitters per tonne of zinc metal produced. Its average grade of 36.4% zinc over the first five years of production also makes it the world’s highest-grade major zinc mine .
Furthermore, construction of the mine’s second tailings storage facility (TSF) is over 90% complete, with the first tailings deposition expected in October 2026. Both the new and existing TSFs are designed to comply with the stringent Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), underscoring Ivanhoe Mines’ commitment to environmental responsibility .
Global Impact and Future Prospects
Kipushi’s impressive performance and strategic importance are set to elevate its standing in the global mining landscape. Ivanhoe Mines projects that Kipushi is on track to meet its 2026 production guidance, which would place the operation among the world’s top four zinc mining operations .
The current near four-year highs in zinc prices provide a favorable market backdrop for Kipushi’s increasing output. This combination of high-grade production, operational efficiency, and a strong market position bodes well for Ivanhoe Mines and its stakeholders.
